>About the Dog Park
Carla Madison Dog Park, located at 2405 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206, is a popular spot for dog owners to let their pups run and play. The park is fully covered in gravel and provides a social atmosphere for both dogs and their owners. Although the park is on the smaller side, it offers a friendly community and is well-maintained by the city. However, visitors should bring their own water during colder months as the water fountain is turned off.
Fencing
- Secure Perimeter: The park features a sturdy, fenced perimeter to ensure the safety of the dogs while they play.
- Triangular Shape: Situated at the corner of 16th Ave and Josephine, the park’s unique triangular shape maximizes the play area within a confined space.
- Single Entry/Exit Point: This helps manage the flow of dogs and owners, reducing the risk of escapes and ensuring easy monitoring.
Distractions
- Urban Surroundings: The park is located in a busy part of Denver, which means occasional noise from traffic and pedestrians.
- Nearby Rec Center: Adjacent to the Carla Madison Recreation Center, the area can be bustling, adding to the ambient noise and activity.
- Loose Gravel Surface: The entire park is covered in pea gravel, which may distract some dogs unfamiliar with this surface.
Amenities
- Water Availability: Water fountains are available but only operational during warmer months. Dog owners are encouraged to bring their own water and bowls during the off-season.
- Seating for Owners: There are a few benches scattered around the park for owners to relax while their dogs play.
- Shade: Some shaded areas are available, providing a cool spot for both dogs and their owners during hot summer days.
Pricing
- Free Access: The park is publicly accessible with no entrance fee, making it a cost-effective option for dog owners in the area.
- Parking: Parking can be challenging as the park shares a lot with the adjacent recreation center, often leading to limited spaces.
Cleanliness
- Regular Maintenance: The City of Denver regularly maintains the park, ensuring that trash is picked up and bins are not overflowing.
- Community Effort: Many dog owners take responsibility for keeping the park clean, often bringing extra bags and picking up after their pets.
Hazards
- Dust and Mud: The park can get very dusty, and after rain or snow, it becomes quite muddy, which might be inconvenient for some dog owners.
- No Separate Small Dog Area: The absence of a designated area for small dogs means that smaller breeds may sometimes feel overwhelmed by larger, more energetic dogs.
- Proximity to Road: The park’s location near a road requires owners to be cautious, especially when playing fetch, to prevent balls from going over the fence.
Extras
- Boulders for Climbing: The park features several large boulders which add a fun element for dogs to climb and play on.
- Community-Contributed Water Jugs: During times when the water fountain is off, thoughtful dog owners often leave water jugs for communal use.
Rules
- Dog Behavior: Dogs must be well-behaved and under control. Aggressive behavior is not tolerated.
- Owner Responsibility: Owners must clean up after their dogs and are encouraged to bring their own waste bags.
- Seasonal Water: Owners should bring their own water during the colder months when the fountain is off.
Community and Safety Rules
- Friendly Atmosphere: The park is known for its friendly and responsible community of dog owners.
- Monitoring Play: Regulars are attentive and often step in to diffuse any heated situations among the dogs.
- Health Precautions: Owners are advised to ensure their dogs are up-to-date on vaccinations to maintain a healthy environment.
Overall, Carla Madison Dog Park is a well-loved spot for Denver’s dog-owning community, offering a safe and social environment for dogs to play and exercise.
Add Review
Chris Dolan
7 months agoGreat spot that usually has other dogs playing so it’s a good one to get the pup some exercise. Fully gravel and I’m told the water fountain is only turned off till April due to weather so I recommend bringing a water bottle to fill the bowls that are on site.
Karla Danes
3 years agoOff the corner on 16th Ave and Josephine, you'll find a triangular clean space for your pup or pups to bring. The area is fenced and regulated by the Denver's city park rules (see picture). Dogs were well behaved and their humans too
Gary
2 years agoGets the job done, but it isn't the biggest park in town. Wyatt is a part of the early morning crew. The mornings usually start off pretty slow, with only a couple of dogs at a time, until around 730. Then from 730-9 it's usually about 10 or so dogs. Everyone is pretty friendly, and has good control when things get a little heated in the puppy circles.
Shaughn Sinclair
2 years agoGreat dog park, but small. It usually has a good mix of smaller pups, so it's good for starting to socialize
Emilee
a year agoThis is mostly a review on the people there. On arrival one of the owners attempted to tell me to leave because I couldn’t bring my child inside. I understand the point of view of not wanting my child to get hurt but it’s my digression on if I can handle my kid around dogs which I can. The owners just seemed snobby and the dog park is rather small and doesn’t have separate areas for small and big dogs so that’s a bummer. The park also has no shade and is made of tiny peddles/gravel that will probably get super hot in the summer months