Exploring Recreation Dog Park in Long Beach, California

Located a few miles north of the Pacific Ocean in Long Beach, California, just a stone's throw away from the Veterans Administration Hospital, lies Recreation Dog Park. A well-known and popular location for dogs and their owners, Recreation Dog Park is a leash-free zone where dogs can roam and play within a large fenced-in area without being leashed. The park is entirely encircled by a chain link fence, and there are three separate gated entrances which lead to different areas of the park. The park has two separate play areas; the larger area, which comprises the western end of the park, is reserved especially for the larger dogs; the smaller area, which sits at the extreme eastern end of the park, is a small fenced-in area reserved exclusively for the smaller dogs. However, many of the more industrious and brave of the smaller breed dogs tend to prefer to hang out in the "big side" of the park with the big dogs, entirely at their own risk of course!

The park floor consists of dirt and fine gravel. On busy days, when there are a large number of dogs running and stomping back and forth, the dust can get a little heavy. For the most part, the park is kept well-watered and the dirt and gravel are normally well-packed. Some days are busier than others; weeekends tend to be pretty busy, and weekday nights are a popular time. There are many friendships that have developed between people that have met at the park, and many dogs are accustomed to playing with a set group of playmates. My dog, tawnie, has three or four dogs that are her "preferred" playmates. On days when her usualy buddies are not there, she's not as active or as adventurous; she will often spend large parts of her time lounging.

Situated throughout both sides of the dog park are numerous benches and tables for people to sit on; there's even a few sawed-off tree stumps that have been converted into crude chairs. However, more often than not, many of the benches and tables seem to be reserved for any dog that happens to feel like lounging atop one. Many of the dogs there seem to enjoy the company of people just as much or even more so than the company of their fellow canines, so it's not uncommon to be sitting alone at one of the park tables watching your dog play only to have a wandering dog trot up to you and make itself comfortable right next to you. There are a number of large trees situated throughout the park that provide plenty of shade on hot, sunny days. However, being that the park is situated so close to the ocean, summer temperatures rarely climb to the uncomfortable level, and summer nights can get awfully chilly when the fog and marine layer start to drift in.

Overall, the majority of the dogs that I have encountered at the park have all been friendly, well-behaved, and eager to play. As with any dog park, there are the occasional aggressive dogs or inattentive owners that are oblivious to the actions of their dogs. Every once in a while there is a dog fight between two assertive or territorial dogs - usually over a ball or a toy - but these are few and far between. Most of the dog owners that I have encountered and know are responsible pet owners with friendly, non-aggressive dogs. If you are a responsible pet owner with a well-behaved, well-socialized dog, you and your dog should enjoy your visit to Recreation Dog Park! It is a great place for your dog to get a little exercise and to socialize with other dogs in a safe, clean, and well-kept environment.