Houston is quickly becoming one of the most dog friendly cities in America. Anyone with a dog knows their joy when you take them with you anywhere. These “Dog Days” posts are my way of sharing Winters’ favorite places around Houston. Quite frankly, they are some of my favorites too, and all very dog friendly. From breweries and bars to dog parks, each post will highlight a place we love! Today is all about a near-downtown favorite: Johnny Steele Dog Park.
Johnny Steele Dog Park
One of my favorites due to convenience is Johnny Steele Dog Park. Located along Allen Parkway, this is one of the larger dog parks near downtown Houston. Another plus for this dog park is the 11 miles of walking and multi-use trails surrounding it in Buffalo Bayou Park. Check out my other blog about all there is to do in Buffalo Bayou Park, here!
The dog park itself offers a shallow pond for the dogs to swim in and a large open space for playing fetch with a paved walking track around the perimeter. The large dog area is not grass but instead a mix of sand and large bark/mulch. A plus for all the little doggos out there, the small dog area is grass. Unfortunately, no swimming pond for them though.
The largest “drawback” to this dog park is the flooding! Being along Buffalo Bayou, a majority of the “bowl-like” green spaces are designed to flood to protect all the development along the bayou. Unfortunately this includes the dog park. Additionally, there is only one wash station and with plenty of opportunity for you dog to get very muddy it is a busy place.
Parking at Johnny Steele Dog Park is along both sides of the exit/entrance ramps for Allen Parkways. Make sure to brush up on those parallel parking skills!
Check out more of our favorites around Houston on the Dog Days page, here. We will periodically be adding more. Head over to the All Things Winter page for all the outdoors activities Winter loves to do as well!
Agreed Great park, close to the apartment and if Winter ever ran off, 1st place I would look is at this dog park’s gate..there she would be waiting for someone to let her in….Winter knows it well.
..she lead me straight there the 1st time we went for a walk along the bayou….she knows! 👈🤠👉
She really does!
Someone (not sure if he knew what he was talking about) at the park said the black wood mulch is full of chemicals. Wouldn’t the city use natural wood mulch?
I have never heard that and never had any issues at the park. People will always find things to complain about, whether they are true or not.