A Quick Guide to Chicago's Montrose Dog Park

If you head north along Lake Shore Drive past Navy Pier, eventually you will come to Montrose Harbor. Just beyond that and right off of Wilson Ave you will find Montrose Dog Park; the only off-leash beachside park in Chicago. Located along Montrose Beach, this is a fenced-in area that is hidden from the road by the old black steel walls of the former boat house. Picturesque, clean and offering a magnificent view of the city, the park is a great place to allow your dog to play in the sand and surf.

No grass can be found along the beach, and even though it is a dog park, the beach is unusually clean. This is because of a strictly followed policy concerning dog waste: all droppings must be collected by dog owners with plastic baggies or other devices and disposed in the slew of trash cans located along the park's back fence. If an owner forgets to bring a baggie, you can find a baggie dispenser located near the dog park entrance.

Dogs are allowed in Lake Michigan at the park, however no dog can be off their leash outside the park. That is the biggest rule of Montrose Beach: all canines must stay on a leash until they have entered the park. The beach is public, and in July and August especially people like to frequent its sandy shore (a rarity along Lake Shore Drive is finding a safe sandy area to wade).

Another thing to note about Montrose Dog Park is that there is a three dog limit per family. This helps to keep the area from being overcrowded. While there can be upwards of 30 or more romping dogs in this area at a time on any given summer day, you'll rarely find it so busy you can't enjoy a walk or brisk jog. Dog owners a by and large friendly in the park, and the park encourages that while not on a leash, all dogs must be attended to at all times.

While a fun and family-friendly place to visit, please be cautious when attending. Remember, there is a ":friendly dogs only" rule in place, but a strange dog is just that, a strange dog. Always remember to approach other animals with caution and do not leave your children unattended. For further safety, a doggy first aid kit has been recommended by many who have attended the beach.

Montrose Beach is located on Lake Michigan, and while the Montrose Dog Park has a members club that routinely tries to pick up the beach and keep it clean, things wash up now and again. Be leery of letting your animal or children play along the shore until you have checked it out, first. Never pick up any dead or diseased fish or other animals, and avoid anything that looks sharp, out of place or dangerous. There's no such thing as a 100% safe park, but these tips will help to ensure your family members (including the four-legged ones) stay safe (source: http://www.chicagocanine.com/beach.htm).

Now the big question; how much? The biggest cost one has to shoulder is purchasing a required dog license that was recently put into place by the city of Chicago. The cost is $35 for a permit for one dog, and $15 for each additional dog. This cost extends to any pet owner who wishes to take their dog to "dog-friendly areas" (source: http://www.chicagocanine.com/beach.htm). There is also tagging rule that legal dog owners in the Chicago area have to adhere to anyway (the cost is $5.00).

The Montrose Dog Park can be found at Wilson Avenue and Lake Michigan, Chicago, IL 60640. For more information, contact Chicago Park District Security at (312) 747-2193

Source information for this article can be found at http://www.mondog.org