Burlington’s first-ever dog park is now open!

The City of Burlington is pleased to announce that the Jack & Helen Doyle Dog Park is now officially open! We are celebrating this important milestone with a Yappy Hour Grand Opening Celebration, to take place Friday April 21st at 12pm, with a ribbon cutting ceremony, a few words from the Mayor, and treats for both human and canine guests alike.

The dog park is located at 343 S. Section Street, just east of Downtown Burlington, on the site of the neighborhood park formerly known as Jack & Helen Doyle Memorial Park. The park features roughly an acre of fenced-in grassy terrain for dogs to enjoy off-leash. The interior is lined with concrete walkways, plenty of park benches, and a multitude of waste stations and trash receptacles. The park also has a small, separate area for more petite or senior dogs, a sheltered area with a picnic table, a brand new public bathroom, as well as a multi-level hydration station, suitable for small and large dogs and humans too! There are 3 double-entry access gates, conveniently located at the East, West and North ends of the park. The main entrance also features a dog washing station, so folks don’t have to bring a dirty dog back home or into their vehicles after a day of fun.  

The Jack & Helen Doyle Dog Park has been a dream and vision of the city for several years. The early stages of planning began in the summer 2021, with construction kicking off by the spring of 2022. The project was a collaborative effort among many of Burlington’s city departments, including Parks, Streets, Planning, Facilities and Administration. Much of the work was completed by city staff, with a significant contribution made by the Streets Dept., saving tens of thousands of dollars in labor costs. The project is also made possible by our sponsors who made many of the amenities possible–items such as waste stations and park benches. A special thank you goes out to these sponsors, who include Mud Bay Burlington, James & Olga Stavig, The Weiss Family, and Rocio Jazmin Tapia.

The site on Section Street has been a neighborhood park since 1991 but was renamed in 2006 as the Jack Doyle Memorial Park as a tribute to Jack Doyle’s many years of service to the city as a Council Representative and Planning Commissioner. His wife Helen, who passed away in 2018, served as a Council Representative for 12 years, as well as being on the Burlington’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and Parks Foundation for many years, and like her husband, had a deep commitment to and involvement in the community. 

The Jack & Helen Doyle Dog Park is open daily, year-round, during daylight hours. Limited parking is available at the dog park though additional parking can be found nearby at Rotary Park at 821 S. Section Street.
 
We'll see you there! 
Burlington Parks and Rec Staff

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City of Burlington
Parks and Recreation

360-755-9649 / Email