The Greenville Dog park is an acceptable dog activity in Greenville that does little more than the bare minimum. Despite being surrounded by college student housing and having minimal parking, the park is showing significant signs of wear.
Just Around…. Where?
The Greenville Off Leash Park is just south of the Tar river in Greenville surrounded by ECU college student housing. The park is also adjacent to the Greenville Greenway trail. Parking is really tight here with a grand total of less than 20 spot. This seems to be a common theme for Greenville Parks/public area for no real reason. There is some space in near by streets and the parking area for the apartments. I would avoid parking in the housing areas since there are posted signs about towing.
There is a parking area for the community garden/greenway to the east. This is rarely used and a great place if the official parking is full. You can also use this if you are trying to access the Greenway or Town Common on a busy day and do not mind a little walk. All the same, you will know are there when you see the two dog shaped metal sculptures.
In The Ruff
Like most dog parks, this is a fenced off area for dog owners to let their dogs run free-ish. The fenced off areas are a good size and directly next to the Greenville greenway. Your dog will never be lacking a friend to play with or a person to watch when they come here. Benches are scattered about for you to rest. The grass in most of this area has been worn down to the dirt making for a dusty experience some days.
One Part I appreciate is separate areas for big and small dogs. This is a nice touch. You can still let frou-frou run around without having to worry about a 95lb horse dog trampling her. Understandably, the small dog area is much smaller in size than the big dog area.
I also found it convenient that there is a police camera overwatching the park. If in the event there were to be a negative event occur, there would be recorded evidence the city could provide.
What Else Can you do?
We came across this park while walking the greenway so we did not have Lucy or Harper with us. Lucy is too skittish to like dog parks but Harper would love this place. This being said, be sure to be a good steward of your dogs when you are here. Some people seem to think it is okay to not pay any attention to the dog once they get in the gate. Harper is a handful and we always have to be on alert if another dog is anywhere near by.
There is a very basic little ramp in the back that is rarely used. Other than 3-4 tree (1 is dead) that’s all there is to the park. Given the simplicity of the park, it is good that it is within close proximity to the greenway and Town Common. You could go on a walk on the green way and finish it off with letting Fido run around before heading home. Madilyn and I played at Town Common for a while before walking down the Greenway and stumbling on the Off Leash area.
It is big detractor that the Greenville Dog Park is surrounded by college housing for me. I saw several people wearing shirts with profanity on it that is just not something I find acceptable. Though I too enjoyed my college days back at NC State, I do not need to be reminded of that phase of my life when I come to a park with my family.
Greenville has plenty of open spaces and room to put parks. I do not see why they felt like this what the best place to put the only city dog park. Maybe they will add a dog park to very ambitious Wild Wood Park plan.
Overall
The Greenville Dog Park is a fair option to let your furry friend get some exercise off-leash if you live around the downtown area. There is not much else to the park and it is being over used. Hopefully more dog parks in the area open up before all the tree are dead.
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