Dog parks are the perfect place for you and your pet to socialize if you're new to our city and looking for safe and fun areas. Or, you may have already lived here for a while and want to treat your pup to a new pet-friendly area. Our team at Gibson Truck World wants to help you find the best of the best locations. So, we have put together a list of the six best dog parks in the general Sanford, Florida, area for you and your furry friends to explore. Let them off their leash and run wild for a while.
Paw Park of Historic Sanford
Bring your dog to Paw Park of Historic Sanford, which has recently been voted as one of the top 10 dog parks in the United States. It's also the first off-leash dog park in central Florida. The park has a fully fenced area, so you don't have to worry about your dog running off into the distance when you look away for a moment. What's fantastic about this park is that it has fence-defined boundaries for little and big dogs.
Having different areas to play in at the park may reduce stress levels for your small pup if you're concerned about them getting overwhelmed by several large dogs.
Some other helpful amenities you can enjoy at this dog park include:
- Dog showers.
- Self-watering bowls.
- Waste bag dispensers.
- Benches.
Additionally, this dog park is ADA accessible with a double gate entry.
Hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 427 S. French Ave., Sanford
Derby Park
Let your dog enjoy the fresh air and take a long walk in Derby Park. This park isn't a fenced-in area specifically for pets, so it's highly encouraged to keep your pet on their leash. Here, you might find it more convenient to walk your dog around the park rather than letting them run around because this park also has a playground for children. Around the playground is ample green space where you can run around with your leashed pet or play fetch with them.
This park is near Bentley Elementary School.
Hours: Daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Address: 2199 S. Oregon Ave., Sanford
Barkley Square Dog Park
If your dog loves a good car ride, get them in your truck and take a 30-minute drive to DeLand to play at Barkley Square Dog Park. This park opened in 2007 and is a terrific dog-friendly location just up in Volusia County. At this park, your pet can run around on 14 acres and play in their own areas if they're a small or large pup. While you're in the large dog area, there's a beautiful small pond lining the spot. Additionally, there are training events and time-out spaces for your pet.
Check out some of these helpful amenities while you're at this dog park:
- Modern restrooms.
- Benches.
- Vinyl-coated fencing.
- Dog watering station.
Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Address: 1010 N. Ridgewood Ave., DeLand
Winter Springs Dog Park
Take a 17-minute drive to Winter Springs with your pup, and play at the Winter Springs Dog Park. This park is fenced in, so you can let your pet off its leash to run around and have fun with the other dogs. If you have a smaller dog, there's an area designated for them to explore on their own. Additionally, there's a sidewalk where you can take your pet on a walk to look around at the park's beautiful views. You can even bring your furry companion with you to go fishing on the park's fishing pier.
Some other beneficial amenities you can find at this location include:
- Training area.
- Benches.
- Shady trees.
Hours: Daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., but closed on Wednesday for maintenance.
Address: 900 Hicks Ave., Winter Springs
Doctors' Dog Park
Doctors' Dog Park is a 30-minute drive to Apopka. So, if your dog loves riding in the car without ending up at the vet, then this is a special treat. You can find this fenced-in park just off Highland Avenue behind Edward's Field. When you visit this park, your dog has plenty of space to run around in the 750-foot by 300-foot area. There are three designated spaces for little, large, and all-sized dogs.
The amenities you can find at this park include:
- Water fountains.
- Pet showers.
- Benches.
- Doggy bags.
Your dog can enjoy running through grassy and sandy areas, and you can rinse them off in the cleaning station before getting in the truck and going home.
Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Address: 21 N. Highland Ave., Apopka
Gemini Springs Dog Park
Your furry friend can enjoy some fun at Gemini Springs Dog Park, about a 15-minute drive to DeBary. This park has a fenced-in 4.5 acres for your pets to run around, play, and socialize with other dogs. There are two sections for little and big dogs. One area is for small dogs under 25 pounds, and the other is for large dogs over 25 pounds.
The amenities you can use at Gemini Springs Dog Park include:
- Shaded areas.
- Picnic tables.
- Dog wash stations.
- Dog water fountains.
- Benches.
Hours: Daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except it closes at 6 p.m. on Monday.
Address: 37 Dirksen Drive, DeBary
So, there you have it, our team's top choices for the six best dog parks in Sanford, Florida. What do you think of our list? Did we miss one of your pet's favorite places to play and meet new friends? Contact us, and tell us about it. Here at Gibson Truck World, we value our customer's opinions, especially about areas others can explore in our great city.
Visit our dealership in Sanford and take with our expert team about what you're looking for in your next truck, or browse our vast inventory of pre-owned trucks. Whatever you're looking for, we want to help get you the best deals, so you drive off our dealership satisfied with doing business with us.
Image by Tatiana Rodriguez is licensed with Unsplash License