The Wicker Park dog park, known locally as Wicker Bark, is the Chicago Park District dog area in the southwest corner of Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Ave. It reopened in November 2025 after a volunteer-led rebuild that added artificial turf, agility boulders and a large sun shade. It’s a good pick for sociable dogs that like to wrestle and climb, though big and small dogs share one space.
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What the rebuilt Wicker Park dog park has
The Wicker Park Advisory Council, which ran the project through its Wicker Bark Committee, says the new layout is 25% bigger, giving almost 6,000 square feet of off-leash space. That lines up with the Park District’s own figure of 0.14 acres for the dog area.
- Surfaces: an artificial turf run and play area, plus what the council calls “paw-friendly sealed and colored asphalt.”
- Things to climb: agility boulders set into the play area.
- Shade: a large sun shade structure, which matters on a hot afternoon.
- Water: a new drinking fountain built for both people and dogs.
- Seating: several seating areas for owners.
Neither the council nor the Park District mentions a separate small-dog section, so plan for a mixed crowd. If your small dog needs its own pen, Walsh Park’s dog area (see below) was split by size when it reopened in 2015.
Why Wicker Bark needed a rebuild
The council dates the dog area to about 1997 and calls it one of Chicago’s first designated dog friendly areas. After more than 25 years of hard use, its list of problems was long: fencing that was “originally designed to blend into the historic nature of Wicker Park,” with most of its posts “completely rotted through from dog urine”; pickets that weren’t built to dog-park standards, which was a hazard for small dogs; gravel beds that barely drained; and cracked asphalt that tore paw pads.
Block Club Chicago reported on 20 May 2025 that the dog park had closed as the renovation began, and on 14 November 2025 that it would reopen that Saturday. The council held its grand opening on Saturday 15 November. By the council’s account, more than $500,000 came in, including $250,000 from State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, $175,000 from 1st Ward Ald. Daniel La Spata, $75,000 from the Park District, $50,000 from SSA #33, which the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce manages, and about $100,000 from individual residents.
The council still looks for volunteers and sponsors to help keep the space in shape; details are on wickerpark.org.
The park around it
Wicker Park is a 4.74-acre park in the West Town community area, open 6am to 11pm daily. The Park District places the dog area at the corner of Wicker Park Avenue and Evergreen Avenue.
It is one of the older parks in the city. Businessmen Charles G. and Joel H. Wicker gave the four-acre parcel to the City in 1870. It first had an artificial lake, which was filled in and turned to lawn by 1890. A decorative fountain followed between 1892 and 1895, and in 1908 landscape architect Jens Jensen swapped its cast-iron centerpiece for a jet spray. Today the park has a fieldhouse, a playground with water spray, a ball field, basketball courts and 10,000 square feet of ornamental gardens that volunteers from the Wicker Park Garden Club designed, fund and maintain.
Each dog using Wicker Bark needs a Park District dog-area permit tag; our Chicago city guide covers how to get one.
Getting there
The CTA Blue Line’s Damen station is at 1558 N. Damen Ave., about a block and a half north of the park, and the #50, #56 and #72 buses stop there.
Quick facts
- Address: 1425 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60622 (Wicker Park Ave. and Evergreen Ave. corner)
- Hours: 6am–11pm daily
- Size: 0.14 acres (almost 6,000 sq ft)
- Surface: artificial turf and sealed, colored asphalt
- Water and shade: people-and-dog drinking fountain; large sun shade
- Permit: Park District dog-area tag required
Other dog parks near Wicker Park
Three more dog areas are a short trip north and west. Churchill Park dog park is about half a mile up Damen, right beside the 606 trail. Walsh Park dog park sits at the trail’s Ashland Avenue end and reopened in 2015 with separate pens for small and large dogs. For more room, Logan Square Dog Park was reported at about 8,000 square feet when it opened. See all Chicago dog parks for the rest of the city.
FAQ
Is the Wicker Park dog park open?
Yes. It closed in May 2025 for a full rebuild and reopened in mid-November 2025. The park is open 6am to 11pm daily.
Do I need a permit for Wicker Park dog park?
Yes. Like every Chicago Park District dog area, it requires a permit tag for each dog. The Chicago city guide explains the process.
Is there a small-dog area at Wicker Bark?
No separate small-dog area is mentioned by the Park District or the advisory council, so small and large dogs share the space.
What surface does the Wicker Park dog park have?
Since the 2025 rebuild it has an artificial turf run and play area plus sealed, colored asphalt, replacing the old gravel beds and cracked asphalt.
Is there water and shade?
Yes. There is a drinking fountain designed for both people and dogs, and a large sun shade structure.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Sources: Chicago Park District: Wicker Dog Friendly Area, Chicago Park District: Wicker (Charles, Joel) Park, Wicker Park Advisory Council: About Wicker Bark, Block Club Chicago (20 May 2025, 14 Nov 2025), CTA: Damen (Blue Line). Park details change, so check before you go.