Bryn Mawr Dog Friendly Area – TEMPORARY, commonly called Edgewater Dog Park, is a fenced off-leash enclosure near Bryn Mawr Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The Chicago Park District opened it as a replacement after the former Foster Beach dog area closed because of rising lake levels.
Plan your visit
- Official name: Bryn Mawr Dog Friendly Area – TEMPORARY.
- Common name: Edgewater Dog Park.
- Location: Bryn Mawr Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60660.
- Hours: The current facility page does not publish a complete dog-area schedule. Follow hours and temporary notices posted at the gate.
- Dog area: One fenced grass-and-woodchip enclosure; the Park District does not identify a separate small-dog section.
- Water: No permanent dog drinking fountain was confirmed. Bring water and a bowl.
Find the dog park entrance
The enclosure is just north of Bryn Mawr Avenue and east of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, between the roadway and the Lakefront Trail. Access is easiest from the lakefront path. Drivers may need to park farther south or west and walk to the enclosure; no dedicated dog-park lot was confirmed.
Open directions to the Bryn Mawr dog area. Keep your dog leashed on the trail and surrounding parkland until both of you are safely inside the gate.
Grass, woodchips and shade
The existing exact-park photo shows a tall fence around a broad grass-and-woodchip surface with mature trees and a bench. This softer ground is unusual among Chicago dog areas and provides shade, but worn or muddy patches can develop after rain or heavy use.
Inspect the enclosure and gate before play. Bring drinking water and waste bags rather than depending on bowls or supplies left by other visitors.
What park goers say
Park goers consistently praise the grass, woodchips, mature trees and room to run. Many describe the enclosure as calm, clean and less crowded than harder-surface dog areas closer to downtown.
The main planning issue is access. Visitors note that the entrance is reached from the Lakefront Trail and that parking is not directly beside the enclosure. Owners also report that there is no dependable fountain. These are visitor experiences rather than a check of today’s conditions.
Rules before you enter
Chicago Park District rules require owners to remain with and watch their dogs, keep gates closed, clean up waste and leash dogs before entering and after leaving. Food for people or dogs is prohibited inside Dog Friendly Areas.
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. Every dog needs the required Dog Friendly Area permit and current registration tag.
Before you go
Check the official Bryn Mawr Dog Friendly Area page and the Chicago Dog Friendly Areas rules and permit page. Because the city still labels this location temporary, confirm current status before making a special trip.
Last researched September 1, 2026. Facility status, access, parking, surface and gate conditions can change.
