Hamlin Park dog park is a 0.16-acre off-leash area at the northeast corner of Wellington and Hoyne avenues, inside Hamlin Park in Chicago’s Roscoe Village. It has water on site, but the Park District rebuilt it in summer 2026, and in August several owners told local news their dogs had cut their paws on the new surface, so read the section below before you go.
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The 2026 rebuild at Hamlin Park dog park
Before the rebuild, the Hamlin run had an all-gravel surface. In summer 2026 the Chicago Park District replaced that pea gravel with asphalt walkways and separate gravel zones. The Park District told ABC7 Chicago the design kept pea gravel in the dog activity areas to give a “stable, lower-maintenance surface” with better drainage, and told CBS Chicago that the asphalt and pea gravel combination “is standard use for dog parks across the Chicago area.”
Regular users did not agree. In reports published on August 3 and 4, 2026, Block Club Chicago, FOX 32, ABC7 and CBS Chicago all described owners whose dogs came home with torn or bleeding paw pads. The problem they described is loose gravel escaping its cutouts onto the asphalt. One owner told CBS Chicago that when a dog runs and stops or turns on a piece of gravel, “there is nowhere for that gravel to go and it cuts its paw.” Others raised the dark asphalt getting hot in summer, and FOX 32 also reported complaints about rusty benches that rattle and a worry that a dog could jump from a bench over the new fence.
The Hamlin Park Advisory Council put out brooms so visitors could sweep gravel back into place, and it organized volunteer cleanups. It also told FOX 32, “We do not design, construct, operate, or maintain the dog park.” The Park District said it was “aware of patron concerns” and would meet the Dog Friendly Area Committee to decide next steps. We could not find a published update on design changes as of late September 2026.
If you go now
- Look at the asphalt when you arrive. If gravel is scattered across it, use the broom or pick a quieter moment.
- Owners quoted in the coverage said the damage happens when dogs stop or turn hard, so keep fetch sessions short until the surface is clear.
- Check your dog’s pads before you leave. A vet quoted by CBS Chicago noted that dogs may keep playing through pain, so a cut can go unnoticed.
What else to expect
The Park District lists the area at 0.16 acres and notes a water supply. Like other Park District dog areas, it is meant for dogs wearing a current Dog Friendly Area tag; the Chicago city guide has the details.
About Hamlin Park
The dog area sits in the corner of a busy 9-acre neighborhood park. The Park District places Hamlin Park in the North Center community area, two blocks south of Belmont Avenue, with Damen Avenue as its eastern border. Local news reports call the area Roscoe Village.
The Lincoln Park Commission set up the park in 1909 after neighbors asked for one. That commission named many of its neighborhood parks after members of Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet, and this one honors his first vice president, Hannibal Hamlin. Prairie School architect Dwight H. Perkins designed the fieldhouse.
Today the fieldhouse has two gyms, a fitness center and a boxing gym. Outside there is a swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, a playground, a picnic area and baseball diamonds, including Legends Field.
Getting there
Head for the corner of Wellington Avenue and Hoyne Avenue; the dog area is on the northeast corner. The park’s official address is 3035 N. Hoyne Ave., Chicago, IL 60618. CTA’s #50 Damen bus runs along Damen Avenue, the park’s eastern edge.
Quick facts
- Address: 3035 N. Hoyne Ave., Chicago, IL 60618; dog area at the northeast corner of Wellington and Hoyne
- Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (park hours)
- Size: 0.16 acres
- Surface: asphalt walkways with gravel zones (since the 2026 rebuild)
- Water: water supply on site
- Cost: free to enter; CPD Dog Friendly Area tag required
Other dog parks nearby
If you’d rather skip the gravel for now, the Horner Park dog park in Irving Park is far bigger and has its own small-dog area. To the south, Bucktown has the Churchill Park dog park and the Walsh Park dog park, and the Wiggly Field dog park is in Lincoln Park.
Hamlin Park dog park FAQ
Is Hamlin Park dog park safe for dogs right now?
After the 2026 rebuild, several owners reported paw cuts from loose gravel on the new asphalt. The Park District said it would meet the dog area committee on next steps. Check the surface before letting your dog run, and inspect its paws after.
What surface does Hamlin Park dog park have?
Since summer 2026, asphalt walkways with separate pea gravel zones. Before that it was all pea gravel.
How big is Hamlin Park dog park?
The Park District lists it at 0.16 acres, at the northeast corner of Wellington and Hoyne.
What are the Hamlin Park dog park hours?
It follows Hamlin Park’s hours, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Sources: Chicago Park District: Hamlin Dog Friendly Area, Chicago Park District: Hamlin (Hannibal) Park, Block Club Chicago (Aug 3, 2026), FOX 32 Chicago (Aug 3, 2026), ABC7 Chicago (Aug 4, 2026), CBS Chicago (Aug 4, 2026), CTA #50 Damen. Park details change, so check before you go.