Dogs get physical activity, freedom with new off-leash area in Stony Creek Metropark

Layla McMurtrie, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read

The first ever off-leash dog area at Huron-Clinton Metroparks has opened at Stony Creek Metropark in Shelby Township, providing dogs with more space to freely run and play.

The area is located at the Oak Grove picnic area in the park and is available during regular park hours.

Following feedback from the public, accessible open space for all dogs in the park was needed.

“Visitors were frequently telling us that they wanted an area to run their dogs off-leash and staff would often encounter the leash rule frequently broken," Metroparks Director Amy McMillan said. "Now we have a space specifically set aside for that purpose, and we intend to add more of these spaces throughout other Metroparks over time."

Outside of the designated off-leash area in Stony Creek Metropark, dogs must stay on a leash.
Outside of the designated off-leash area in Stony Creek Metropark, dogs must stay on a leash.

The new  3-acre space offers a water bottle/pet bowl filling station, unisex portable toilet, parking lot improvements and three van-accessible parking spaces. A 10-foot-wide asphalt path from the parking lot to the bullpen entryway into the off-leash dog areas makes it accessible to all visitors,  according to a news release.

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Completion of the project was made possible with help from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund, which granted $50,000 in support of the renovation. Additionally, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks contributed $144,563 in matching funds from its capital fund, bringing the overall project cost to just under $200,000.

“We are excited to welcome all the furry visitors to the space to experience it for themselves," McMillan said. “However, we do want to remind those furry visitors to train their humans on the proper pet etiquette when visiting other areas of the Metroparks.”

Owners must keep dogs on a leash when entering and exiting the off-leash dog area and on other grounds and trails in the park.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stony Creek opens 1st off-leash dog area at Metroparks