The Coliseum Park dog park is a Chicago Park District dog area at 1466 S. Wabash Ave. in the South Loop, in a small park built on the site of the old Chicago Coliseum. The South Loop Dog PAC, a volunteer group, places it at 14th Street by the ‘L’ tracks. It’s a convenient neighborhood run, but it closes earlier than most, at 9 p.m.
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Coliseum Park dog park at a glance
- Address: 1466 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60605
- Official name: Coliseum Dog Friendly Area
- Parent park: Coliseum Park (formerly Park No. 507), 0.75 acres, Near South community area
- Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
- Permit: Chicago Park District DFA tag
Only tagged dogs may use the run; the Chicago city guide explains how to get a Park District DFA permit.
What we could and couldn’t confirm
Coliseum Park is small. The Park District lists 0.75 acres in total, shared between a playground, a passive lawn and the dog friendly area, so the run itself is compact. The Park District’s page for the dog area gives its address and parent park, but not its size, surface, fencing or water.
If a separate small-dog area matters to you, Fred Anderson Dog Park, a block and a half south on Wabash, is the one to choose. The Park District lists separate enclosed areas for small and large dogs there.
What dog owners notice at Coliseum Park
Most Google reviews of Coliseum Park, read in September 2026, are about the playground, but the few that mention the dog area agree on its shape and setting. It runs along the side of the park beside the ‘L’, and reviewers describe it as long and narrow rather than open; one estimated it at no more than about 15 feet wide. That same reviewer thought it suits dogs that never stop playing, and found the owners friendly.
The train is the main gripe. Several reviewers mention the tracks right behind the park and say it can get loud, which is worth weighing if your dog is sound-shy. Reviewers also note that a fence and gates keep the dog area separate from the playground, and that there is seating in the park for a break after the run.
Hours: this one closes at 9 p.m.
Many Chicago parks are open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., but the Park District lists Coliseum Park at 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. That matters for a late walk: after 9 p.m., you’ll need to go elsewhere. Fred Anderson Park’s park page also lists a 9 p.m. close, though its dog-area listing says 11 p.m. The Park District lists Grant Park, home of the Grant Park dog park, at 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Chicago Coliseum story
The park is named for the Chicago Coliseum, a sports arena and events hall that stood on this stretch of Wabash Avenue. According to the Park District, candy maker Charles F. Gunther bought a Confederate prison in Richmond, Virginia, had it dismantled brick by brick and reassembled it here as a Civil War museum. After an earlier Coliseum hall burned down in 1897, investors turned the museum site into a new sports and events hall. President William McKinley dedicated the new Chicago Coliseum in August 1900.
The Coliseum hosted Wild West shows, political conventions, hockey, basketball, roller skating and rock concerts until 1982. The Park District acquired the land in 2000 and commissioned Site Design Group to build the park. Its design, including a cast-stone and metal entrance pavilion, a playground, a perennial garden and lawns, takes its cues from the old building.
More dog parks in the South Loop and downtown
- Fred Anderson Dog Park, 1611 S. Wabash Ave.: two enclosed areas on artificial turf, with water play fountains and shade structures.
- Grant Park dog park, 951 S. Columbus Drive: the big downtown run near Museum Campus.
- Lakeshore East dog park: a small enclosed run in a downtown park.
- In the West Loop: Bartelme Park dog park and the West Loop 569 dog park.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the Coliseum Park dog park close?
The Park District lists Coliseum Park hours as 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, two hours earlier than many Chicago parks.
Where exactly is the Coliseum Park dog park?
The Park District’s address is 1466 S. Wabash Ave. The South Loop Dog PAC places the dog run at 14th Street by the ‘L’ tracks.
Do I need a permit for the Coliseum Park dog park?
Yes. It’s a Park District Dog Friendly Area, so every dog needs a DFA tag.
Does the Coliseum Park dog park have a small-dog area?
The Park District doesn’t list one. Nearby Fred Anderson Dog Park has separate enclosed areas for small and large dogs.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Sources: Chicago Park District Coliseum Park, Coliseum Dog Friendly Area, Anderson (Fred) Park and Dog Friendly Areas pages; South Loop Dog PAC, South Loop Dog Parks. Park details change, so check before you go.