The Walsh Park dog park is a small Chicago Park District dog area at 1722 N. Ashland Ave., set west of Ashland right beside the 606 trail where it begins. It covers only 0.10 acres, but when it reopened in 2015 it was split into two fenced pens, one for dogs under 25 pounds and one for larger dogs. That makes it a sensible choice for small or nervous dogs, and an easy stop before or after a leashed walk on the trail.
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Inside the Walsh Park dog park
The Park District describes the dog area as “west of Ashland and adjacent to train tracks,” with a doggie drinking fountain. For the layout, the most detailed account we found is DNAinfo’s report from 2 October 2015, when the dog area reopened after two years closed for 606 construction:
- Two pens: the southern enclosure is for dogs under 25 pounds and the northern one for dogs over 25 pounds, divided by a fence with a lockable door.
- Surface: artificial turf plus two enclosed sandlots filled with pea gravel.
- Water: a water fountain for dogs in each pen.
- Position: on the park’s eastern edge, facing both the Bloomingdale Trail and Ashland Avenue.
That description is more than ten years old and we found no newer official one, so check the signs at the gate for the current size split. Space is tight at a tenth of an acre, so this is a place for a social play session rather than long runs.
As at any Park District dog area, your dog needs a current dog-area tag; the Chicago city guide has the details.
Where the 606 starts
Walsh Park is the eastern end of the 606, the Park District’s 2.7-mile elevated park and trail along the old Bloomingdale rail line, which runs from Ashland to Ridgeway. The Park District calls Walsh Park “a major point of access” to the trail. The 606 is open 6am to 11pm and has 12 access points roughly every quarter mile.
Dogs are welcome on the trail, but the Park District asks users to keep them on a short leash. A good routine is a play session in the pen, then a leashed walk west. Churchill Field Park, with its own dog area, is another trail access point about half a mile along at Damen Avenue.
John Walsh and the park
Walsh (John) Park is a 2.18-acre park in the West Town community area, open 6am to 11pm. Besides the dog area it has an athletic field, basketball hoops, a playground with a spray feature, outdoor fitness equipment and a gathering space.
The site has a sad history. A vacant building there was destroyed in a deadly fire on 7 July 1970. Firefighter John P. Walsh Jr. (1923–1970), a Marine veteran with Hook & Ladder Company 44, died five weeks after being critically injured fighting the blaze. The Dana Civic Organization then asked the Park District to turn the fire-scarred lot into a neighborhood park, and the district acquired it by the end of 1972 with federal HUD grant funds.
More recent changes came with the trail. In 2014 the district secured an Illinois Department of Natural Resources grant for the playground, fitness equipment, pathways, landscaping and lighting, and Block Club Chicago reported in March 2019 that the park’s south end would be closed until October for a renovation including better lighting and a new playground.
Getting there
The CTA #9 Ashland bus runs past the park; its Cortland/Ashland stop is a short walk north. The park is also easy to reach on foot or by bike from anywhere along the 606.
Quick facts
- Address: 1722 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
- Hours: 6am–11pm daily
- Size: 0.10 acres
- Layout (2015 report): separate pens for dogs under and over 25 lb
- Surface (2015 report): artificial turf and pea gravel
- Water: dog drinking fountain
- Permit: Park District dog-area tag required
Nearby dog parks
Head west on the 606 to Churchill Park dog park, set against the trail embankment at Damen. South of the trail, Wicker Park dog park reopened in late 2025 with turf, boulders and a big sun shade. Logan Square Dog Park by the Kennedy Expressway also opened in 2015 with separate small- and large-dog sides. Browse all Chicago dog parks for more.
Walsh Park dog park FAQ
Does Walsh Park dog park have a small-dog area?
When it reopened in 2015, the southern pen was for dogs under 25 pounds and the northern pen for bigger dogs. Check the gate signs, as we found no newer official description.
Is Walsh Park dog park on the 606?
It is right beside it. Walsh Park is the trail’s eastern end and one of its main access points.
Can I walk my dog on the 606?
Yes, on a short leash. The trail is open 6am to 11pm.
What are the Walsh Park dog park hours?
The Park District lists Walsh Park as open 6am to 11pm daily.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Sources: Chicago Park District: Walsh Dog Friendly Area, Chicago Park District: Walsh (John) Park, Chicago Park District: Visit the 606, DNAinfo, 2 Oct 2015, Block Club Chicago, 20 Mar 2019, CTA #9 Ashland timetable. Park details change, so check before you go.