Horner Park Dog Park, Chicago: Big Run With a Small-Dog Area

Horner Park dog park is a fenced, volunteer-built off-leash area in the southwest corner of Horner Park, on Chicago’s Northwest Side in the Irving Park community area. It has a separate section for dogs under 30 pounds, a water play area and a dog drinking fountain, so it suits both big runners and small dogs that prefer their own space.

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What the Horner Park dog park is like

The Horner Park Advisory Council describes the Dog Friendly Area as “25,000 square feet of fun,” with a water play area, a small dog area, a drinking fountain, natural landscaping and benches. The volunteers’ own FAQ lists Fibar ground cover, laid fresh each year, plus pavers and benches; the council’s clean-up notes mention sweeping the patio and moving mulch to spots that need it.

• Small-dog area: meant for dogs under 30 pounds. Small dogs may also use the large-dog side.
• Water: a drinking fountain on copper water lines and a splash pad, both added in the second phase of construction, which finished in July 2021.
• Trash: the Park District does not empty bins inside the dog area, so the bins are placed as close to the entrance as possible. Carry bags out to them.
• Lighting: there is none, so plan evening visits before dark.

A dog park built by neighbors

This area exists because local dog owners pushed for it. Block Club Chicago reported in August 2018 that the first phase had opened “after 5 years of hope,” following fundraising by a committee working with the Horner Park Advisory Council.

Phase two brought most of what you see today. When it reopened in July 2021, Block Club Chicago listed fencing, separate areas for small and large dogs, benches, a water fountain and a cooling station with a kiddie pool. The work ran late, partly because crews dug up broken glass from the site’s industrial past and had to remove about 6 inches of soil and replace it with clean fill.

The group behind it, the Dog Friendly Area Committee, still runs things day to day. It holds a clean-up on the first Saturday of every month from 9 to 11 a.m. It also raises money with a dog calendar photo contest.

What to know before you go

Watch for glass after heavy rain. The site was once a brick yard and garbage dump, and the dog park’s own FAQ warns that when the ground is disturbed or after heavy rains, glass fragments and other debris can come to the surface. Check the ground if it has been wet.

Tags and permits. Like every Chicago Park District off-leash area, this one expects each dog to wear a current Dog Friendly Area tag; our Chicago city guide explains how to get one.

House rules. The posted rules allow three dogs per person and no food, human or dog.

The rest of Horner Park

Horner Park covers almost 58 acres. The Park District says the site began as clay pits and later a garbage dump; acquisition began in 1946 and the fieldhouse was added in 1956. The park honors Henry Horner, Illinois’ first Jewish governor. A red granite monument in the northwest corner depicts his accomplishments, and an art deco relief carved by John David Brcin in 1948 was moved here from Grant Park in 1956.

Along the park’s riverside edge, the advisory council says 13 acres of prairie and oak savanna have been restored beside the North Branch of the Chicago River, with more than half a mile of trails. That natural area is posted with “No Dogs” signs, which Block Club Chicago reported in October 2024 were being ignored and vandalized. Keep your dog out of the natural area and use the dog park and the park’s ordinary lawns and paths, on leash, instead.

Getting there

The dog park sits near the corner of Irving Park Road and California Avenue. The Park District’s address for the dog area is 2741 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60618, which is the park’s main address on Montrose Avenue, so use Irving Park and California if you’re walking straight to the dog area. CTA’s #80 Irving Park bus runs along Irving Park Road past the south edge of the park.

Quick facts

• Address (CPD): 2741 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60618; dog area at the southwest corner, near Irving Park Rd. and California Ave.
• Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., the same as the park; no lights
• Size: about 25,000 square feet, per the advisory council
• Small-dog area: yes, for dogs under 30 pounds
• Water: dog drinking fountain and splash pad
• Surface: Fibar wood-fiber ground cover, plus pavers and a patio
• Cost: free to enter; CPD Dog Friendly Area tag required

Nearby dog spots

Farther up the river, the River Park dog park is a much smaller run beside a riverside park with canoe launches. To the southeast, the Hamlin Park dog park in Roscoe Village was renovated in 2026, and the Challenger Park dog park is a compact option in Buena Park. For every Park District run, see all Chicago dog parks.

Horner Park dog park FAQ

Does Horner Park dog park have a small-dog area?

Yes. The small-dog area is for dogs under 30 pounds, and small dogs can also use the large-dog side.

Is Horner Park dog park fenced?

Yes. The 2021 phase of work added fencing and separate areas for small and large dogs.

What are the Horner Park dog park hours?

It follows Horner Park’s hours, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. There is no lighting, so the volunteers recommend going in daylight.

Is there water for dogs at Horner Park?

Yes. There is a dog drinking fountain and a splash pad, both installed in the 2021 phase of work.

Can I walk my dog in the Horner Park natural area?

No. The riverside natural area is posted “No Dogs.” Use the dog park, or keep your dog leashed on the rest of the park.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Sources: Chicago Park District: Horner Dog Friendly Area, Chicago Park District: Horner (Henry) Park, Horner Park Advisory Council: Dog Friendly Area, Horner Park Advisory Council, Horner Park Dog Park FAQ, Horner Park Dog Park: Dog Park Vision, Horner Park Dog Park: Rules, Block Club Chicago (Aug 3, 2018, Jul 13, 2021, Oct 23, 2024), CTA #80 Irving Park. Park details change, so check before you go.