The Bartelme Park dog park is a sunken dog run inside Mary Bartelme Park at 115 S. Sangamon St. in Chicago’s West Loop. Instead of a flat pen, it has artificial grass, ramps and ledges to climb, and an oversized bowl that keeps refilling itself, which makes it a good pick for dogs that like to explore.
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Inside the Bartelme Park dog park
The Chicago Park District describes it as “a sunken dog park that is complete with a continuously filling, over-sized dog bowl, ramps, ledges, steps, and artificial canine grass.” The Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council lists the sunken dog park as one of the park’s distinct zones.
That set-up gives dogs more to do than a flat run. Climbers can work the ramps and ledges, and the self-filling bowl means you don’t have to rely on a push-button fountain.
The Park District doesn’t publish the dog area’s size, fencing details or whether there’s a separate area for small dogs, so we’ve left those out.
Quick facts
- Address: 115 S. Sangamon St., Chicago, IL 60607 (Sangamon and Adams)
- Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
- Layout: sunken run with ramps, ledges and steps
- Surface: artificial canine grass
- Water: continuously filling oversized dog bowl
- Permit: Chicago Park District DFA tag
Your dog needs a Park District DFA tag to use the run, and our Chicago city guide covers where to get one.
Mary Bartelme Park beyond the dog run
The Park District lists Mary Bartelme Park at 2.71 acres in the Near West Side community area. It was “formerly the site of an old infirmary.” The Park District acquired the land in 2006 and named the park in 2010. ABC7 Chicago reported the new park at Sangamon and Adams on August 19, 2010, and paver supplier Unilock also dates the opening to August 2010.
The park was designed by Site Design Group for the Chicago Park District. According to the designers, salvaged terracotta from the former infirmary was built into the seat walls and planting areas. Permeable paving and underground infiltration handle stormwater, managing up to a 100-year storm. The Landscape Architecture Foundation’s case study puts the budget at $3.1 million, excluding land.
Its best-known feature is at the northwest entry: five twisted stainless-steel gates that spray a fine mist on hot days. The Park District says they use only three gallons a minute. There’s also an ADA-accessible playground, an open lawn, a nature garden, an enclosed seating area and a viewing hill up to six feet high with skyline views.
Who was Mary Bartelme?
The Park District calls Mary Bartelme (1866–1954) “the first woman judge in Illinois.” She was born near Fulton and Halsted streets, not far from the park, and spent her career reforming how courts treated children and women. The Park District credits her with helping to establish America’s first juvenile court in 1899.
What to know before you go
The park is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. The Park District doesn’t list separate hours for the dog area.
Keep your dog on a leash outside the sunken run. The Landscape Architecture Foundation’s case study found that dog urine damaged plants along a six-foot strip next to the sidewalks, and it noted ongoing conflicts over off-leash dogs and waste in the rest of the park. Using the run for off-leash play, and keeping dogs out of the planting beds, helps keep the park dog-friendly.
Local questions about the park go to the Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council, a volunteer group that works with the Park District. It meets once a month and posts updates at westlooppark.com.
Nearby dog parks
- West Loop 569 dog park: roughly half a mile west on Monroe Street, with nearly half an acre of turf, rock and shade canopies. It’s the better choice for more room.
- Lakeshore East dog park: a small enclosed run in Lake Shore East Park, downtown.
- Grant Park dog park: downtown’s larger off-leash run near Museum Campus.
- Coliseum Park dog park: a compact South Loop run on Wabash Avenue.
For more options, see all Chicago dog parks and dog-friendly things to do in Chicago.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bartelme Park dog park fenced?
The Park District doesn’t describe the fencing. It lists a sunken dog park set apart as a designated Dog Friendly Area, so check the gates on arrival if a secure enclosure matters.
What surface does the Bartelme Park dog park have?
The Park District says it has artificial canine grass, along with ramps, ledges and steps.
Is there water for dogs at Bartelme Park?
Yes. The run has a continuously filling, oversized dog bowl. The park also has misting gates at its northwest entry for hot days.
Do I need a permit for the Bartelme Park dog park?
Yes. Every dog needs a Chicago Park District DFA tag. See the city guide for how to get one.
What are the Bartelme Park dog park hours?
Mary Bartelme Park is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Sources: Chicago Park District Bartelme (Mary) Park, Bartelme (Mary) Dog Friendly Area and Dog Friendly Areas pages; Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council; Site Design Group; Landscape Architecture Foundation, Landscape Performance Series case study; ABC7 Chicago, 19 Aug 2010; Unilock, Aug 2010. Park details change, so check before you go.