Memorial Park Dog Park is a free, fenced 1.5-acre off-leash area on a hillside above the lake in Athens’ Five Points neighborhood. For the simplest arrival, use Memorial Park’s lower parking lot, cross the bridge and follow the paved walk uphill; the dog park is directly behind the restrooms.
Plan your visit
- Address: 293 Gran Ellen Drive, Athens, GA 30606.
- Hours: Memorial Park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Check posted dog-area notices and the official park page for temporary changes.
- Cost: Athens-Clarke County lists no fee for this dog park.
- Parking: The lower lot provides the most direct route to the enclosure. Parking can be limited during peak season and special events.
- Layout: Expect rolling, grassy terrain inside a five-foot no-climb fence, with an accessible concrete path, seating and a covered shade area.
Find the dog park entrance
The street address serves the full 72-acre Memorial Park, so do not stop at the first parent-park attraction. From the lower parking lot, walk across the bridge and continue up the sidewalk. The fenced dog area is behind the restroom building on the hill near the lake.
The renovated enclosure also has a secondary entrance from Woodland Hills Drive, but local reporting notes that there is no parking at that upper entrance. Use the lower-lot route if you are arriving by car. Review the county’s dog park directions before leaving.
Water, seating and the renovated play area
Athens-Clarke County completed a major dog-park renovation in spring 2024. The current enclosure includes a pet drinking fountain, a separate fountain for people, new seating, a covered shade structure, improved fencing and a paved route intended to improve access for visitors with mobility needs.
The lake, fishing pond, trails, zoo and other attractions belong to the larger Memorial Park; they are not dog-park swimming amenities. Keep the off-leash portion of the visit inside the designated enclosure and follow the signs at each gate. A public microchip scanner is available at the dog park during park operating hours.
Rules and current park work
Use the fenced dog park for off-leash play and follow all posted gate rules. Supervise your dog, keep the entry clear and clean up before leaving. The county’s larger Memorial Park improvement project is under construction and is expected to continue into 2027, so parking and pedestrian routes may change. Check the official Memorial Park improvements page for current notices.
What parkgoers say
Recent parkgoers have praised the enclosure’s size, rolling hills and social atmosphere, especially the regular group of local owners and dogs. Visitors also appreciate the drinking fountain, accessible path and seating added during the rebuild.
Shade is the most consistent tradeoff. The old wooded enclosure was replaced by a more open grassy layout, and several visitors say the covered seating does not provide enough relief across the whole play area on hot afternoons. Plan an early visit during warm weather, bring backup water and check the ground before letting your dog run.
More Athens dog park options and updates
Athens-Clarke County also operates Wiggley Field at Southeast Clarke Park and public and reservable dog areas at Sandy Creek Park. Compare current access and fees on the official county dog parks page, or browse more listings in the Georgia dog park directory.
Last researched August 31, 2026. For a correction to this listing, contact DogPark Near Me.