Dog Off Leash Areas

Morris Hill Park, the newest dog park in Boise is located at the corner of Roosevelt and Alpine Streets.  The area is fenced and one-acre in size.

The Military Reserve Off-Leash Park (shown below) is located at the corner of Mountain Cove Road and Reserve Street.

Partnerships with the community will help to make improvements to this site and aid in the development of other off-leash areas.  Volunteers are always needed, as well as, funding.  Donations may be made to Boise Parks & Recreation in care of the Off Leash Area Heritage Trust Account at 1104 Royal Blvd, Boise, ID 83706.  Donations are specifically earmarked for the development of off-leash areas.

Photos of Military Reserve Off-Leash Park:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted Areas:

Dogs are not allowed at the following areas:

Municipal Park
Simplot Sports Complex
Platt Gardens

Dogs are not allowed in the following parks during the designated seasons:

Kathryn Albertson Park
March 1 - June 30 due to waterfowl nesting season

Charles F. McDevitt Youth Sports Complex
March 1 - October 31, which is during Little League season.

Optimist Youth Sports Complex
September - November
April - May
Which is during sports seasons.

Willow Lane Athletic Complex
Not allowed during softball games.

History:

Under the direction of the City's Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners, staff created a Dog Off-Leash Area Task Force which met monthly for a year to consider the merits of establishing dog off-leash areas (DOLAs) within the City of Boise. The task force concluded that DOLAs should be established in each quadrant of the city and proposed several sites include off- leash areas. Approved (but not yet developed) sites for off leash areas are:

• Bowler Site in Southeast Boise
• Military Reserve Flood Basin in North Boise
• Murgoitio Site in Southwest Boise
• Ada County has approved an off-leash area off Horseshoe Bend Road which will provide services to residents in Northwest Boise

Task force members took various factors into consideration when selecting sites for recommendation, including public opinion as expressed in public meetings, letters and phone calls, the Ridge to Rivers Survey, and personal experiences as trainers and dog owners. Internet chat groups, reports from other park systems that operate DOLAs and Parks & Recreation staff expertise also provided valuable insight for the project.

Recognizing that DOLAs need to be operated in a clean and orderly manner, the task force developed a set of minimum requirements, as well as, rules and regulations for all approved sites. It is the task force’s belief that self-enforcement efforts by DOLA users are the key to successful operation of these facilities. However, the task force has recently been using a combination of self-enforcement and coordination with the Idaho Humane Society to enforce the existing laws in problem areas throughout the city.

The full proposal for DOLAs, minimum requirements, & rules and regulations from the Dog Off-Leash Area Task Force was taken to the Board in April of 2001 and approved.

Additional efforts have been approved for dog training areas and trails and open space.