A new chance to bark in the park: Eugene opens new dog spot at Washington Jefferson Park

Chris Pietsch, Eugene Register-Guard
·2 min read
David Phillips, Eugene City park operations supervisor west region, plays fetch with his dog Sasha at the new Washington Jefferson dog park in Eugene.
David Phillips, Eugene City park operations supervisor west region, plays fetch with his dog Sasha at the new Washington Jefferson dog park in Eugene.

A new dog park is now open at Washington Jefferson Park in Eugene.

Among the first visitors was a mixed-breed dog named Poppy who arrived with owners Laura Robertson and Corey Hurtt in tow.

The couple live off River Road in Eugene, with the closest other dog park a 15-minute drive away. They have been keeping an eye on the progress at Washington Jefferson Park with anticipation.

“As you can see, Poppy loves to run,” said Laura Robertson with a laugh as her dog chased after other dogs in the fenced area Wednesday morning.

The 1.3-acre dog park is located between West 5th and 6th avenues in Eugene.

Corey Hurtt and Laura Robertson take their dog Poppy to the opening day of the new Washington Jefferson dog park in Eugene.
Corey Hurtt and Laura Robertson take their dog Poppy to the opening day of the new Washington Jefferson dog park in Eugene.

The park served as a city-sanctioned place for unhoused people to stay during the pandemic as the city eased its overnight camping rules to help avoid the spread of COVID-19.

After the camping ban was reinstated in March of 2022, the park was closed for cleanup and renovation. Parts of the park north of the dog park opened again in June of 2023.

Adding a dog park to the area received overwhelming support in a neighborhood survey conducted by the city as they devised a reopening plan.

The new park features a fenced area with double entry gates, park benches, dog bag dispensers and garbage service. The hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. according to a press release announcing the opening from City of Eugene Parks and Open Space.

Construction cost was approximately $190,000, paid for by Parks System Development Charges (SDCs) and general parks funding according to the city.

David Phillips, Eugene City park operations supervisor west region, was also on hand Wednesday with his dog Sasha.

“I wanted to test drive the park with my own dog — see what she did and how she liked it,” said Phillips.

“It is a centrally located space and people love dog parks,” said Phillips as he threw a ball for Sasha.

“This is a really good use of space,” he added.

The City of Eugene urges all visitors to adhere to the following rules and safety guidelines:

  • Leash your dog when entering and leaving the park

  • Remove your dog immediately if it becomes aggressive

  • Remain in the area with your dog and have voice control at all times

  • No dogs are allowed to fight, bite, or bark excessively

  • Do not bring a dog that is in estrus to the park

  • Use caution when allowing children to enter this off-leash area

  • Closely monitor your dog’s behavior at all times

  • Do not bring more dogs into the park than you can personally control

Contact photographer Chris Pietsch at chris.pietsch@registerguard.com, or follow him on Twitter @ChrisPietsch and Instagram @chrispietsch

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene opens new dog spot at Washington Jefferson Park