Bartelme (Mary) Dog Friendly Area is a fenced off-leash space inside Mary Bartelme Park at 115 South Sangamon Street in Chicago’s West Loop. The dog area has a distinctive sunken design with hard surfaces, artificial-turf patches, built-in sitting edges and mature trees around parts of the enclosure.
Plan your visit
- Address: 115 S. Sangamon St., Chicago, IL 60607.
- Official name: Bartelme (Mary) Dog Friendly Area, within Bartelme (Mary) Park.
- Park hours: The Chicago Park District lists Mary Bartelme Park as open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Follow any narrower hours posted at the dog-area gate.
- Off-leash boundary: Dogs may be off leash only inside the designated fenced Dog Friendly Area.
- Permit: Chicago requires a current Dog Friendly Area permit and registration tag for every dog. The Park District lists the 2026 permit and tag fee as $10 per dog and does not offer visitor day passes.
- Parking: The Park District does not list a dedicated dog-park lot. Plan for nearby street or paid parking and check signs carefully.
Find the dog park entrance
Use the official park address on South Sangamon Street, then look for the fenced, sunken dog area within Mary Bartelme Park. Keep your dog leashed while crossing the larger park and until both of you are inside the Dog Friendly Area. Secure the gate behind you before removing the leash.
Open directions to Bartelme Dog Friendly Area.
Surface, water and comfort
This is a compact urban dog area rather than a large grass field. Visitors describe concrete levels, artificial-turf patches and built-in edges where people can sit. Trees shade portions of the enclosure, but sun and surface temperatures change through the day.
Park goers report a dog drinking fountain inside the enclosure. The Park District does not publish a current operating schedule for it, so bring a bowl and backup water, especially in winter or during maintenance.
What park goers say
Park goers often praise the convenient West Loop location, social atmosphere, shade and unusual sunken layout. Reviews describe a popular neighborhood stop where dogs can meet and play while their people use the built-in seating edges.
Other visitors note that the enclosure is compact and can feel busy at popular times. The mostly hard-surface layout may not suit dogs that need a large grass run, and crowded play can change quickly. These are visitor reports rather than a check of today’s conditions, so watch the current dog mix before entering.
Rules before you enter
Chicago Park District rules require owners to stay with and watch their dogs, keep the gate closed, clean up waste and leash dogs before entering and after leaving. Food for people or dogs is not allowed inside the Dog Friendly Area.
Each person may bring no more than three dogs. Puppies under four months, female dogs in heat and dogs with known dangerous behavior are prohibited. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Carry the required permit for each dog and keep the current registration tag on the dog’s collar or harness.
Before you go
Check the official Bartelme Dog Friendly Area page and the Chicago Dog Friendly Areas rules, permit and tag page before leaving. Posted signs control temporary closures and site-specific restrictions.
Last researched September 1, 2026. Hours, water availability, permit details and temporary restrictions can change.
