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The McKinley Dog Park is a legal Dog Friendly Area (DFA) established in January 2020. McKinley Park is home to the first DFA on Chicago’s Southwest side, a wonderful addition to the park’s 69 acres of land and amenities. Nestled on the north east corner of Pershing and Western is 12,000 sq. ft. of fenced off space, divided to create a space for small and large dogs to safely play/exercise. McKinley Dog Park has been, and will continue to be, volunteer-run so we encourage all visitors to help maintain the cleanliness and integrity of the park.
There are a number of reasons why this park is beneficial to the community:
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There are no other public dog parks in our area to accommodate safe, off-leash dog activities.
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Families with dogs can now spend more quality time with their pets.
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Reduced angst between dog owners, non-owners, police and park authorities regarding leash laws in city parks.
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Increased opportunities for residents to interact with their neighbors and help create a sense of community.
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Many dogs need exercise above and beyond human limitations; furthermore, many dog owners do not have a yard where their dogs can spend time outside, and leashes greatly limit the dog’s space and pace.
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Socializing dogs is very beneficial to the community, since it makes them less skittish and can mitigate aggressive behavior when meeting other dogs and people.
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Regular exercise is great for any dog’s longevity and weight control, and the overall effect of regular exercise makes most dogs calmer and better behaved.
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