What you need to know:
• Construction starts summer 2026; the dog park is expected to open in early 2027
• The 2-acre facility will include separate fenced areas for large and small dogs, two shade shelters, a dog wash station, benches, and lighting
• No registration or user fees required; open sunrise to sunset
• Orlando awarded a $900,513 contract to APD Construction, an Orlando-based minority contractor, after receiving 11 competitive bids
• The project was first proposed in 2021; the Rosemont and College Park area currently has no dedicated city off-leash dog park
Dog owners near The Grove Park are getting their first dedicated off-leash space: a 2-acre park with shade shelters, a dog wash station, and evening lighting, expected to open in early 2027.
For dog owners in Rosemont, College Park, and Spring Lake — neighborhoods with no dedicated city off-leash facility nearby — the park fills a gap that sent many to parks in other parts of the city. The city this month awarded a $900,513 construction contract, with work set to begin this summer at The Grove Park on Packing District Way.
What’s included
The park will cover 2 acres and include separate fenced areas for large and small dogs, each accessed through a double-gated entry plaza. The city plans two shade shelters, benches, dog drinking bowls, a drinking fountain, a dog wash area, and lighting.
There are no user fees and no registration requirements. Hours are sunrise to sunset, consistent with the rest of The Grove Park.
“Construction is expected to begin in summer of 2026 with the dog park expected to open in early 2027,” said Andrea Otero, the city’s public information manager.
A wait that started in 2021
The project has been in the works since April 2021, when then-District 3 Commissioner Robert Stuart announced the plan at a community Zoom meeting for the Packing District development. The Grove Park opened in May 2023 — bringing tennis courts, trails, and 66 acres of green space — but the dog park wasn’t part of that opening.
An early concept design from 2021 envisioned a larger facility. Otero said that rendering was not a construction blueprint.
“Concept designs show the initial creative vision, layout, and aesthetic of a planned project,” she said. “They are not final permit approved construction plans. At this time the construction plans represent the full dog park.“
District 3 Commissioner Roger Chapin, who took office in January, said the park’s appeal goes beyond four-legged visitors.
“Obviously dog parks are good for dogs. But they’re also good for residents. Dog parks are some of the most socially enjoyable destinations not only for dogs but for humans!” he said.
Chapin, a dog owner himself, added a personal note: “As a lifetime dog owner myself, it’s nice to know I can take my dog Hudson off leash where he can stretch his legs, play with other dogs and help to sniff out other dog owners for introduction!“
What to expect during construction
The dog park will be built at the park’s southern end, across from the Orlando Tennis Centre. Otero said some nearby parking spaces will be used temporarily to store construction equipment and materials, but she said the effect on day-to-day parking should be minimal.
“Short term use of some parking spaces is not expected to make parking difficult during regular operation of the park or Orlando Tennis Centre,” she said.