Closure update: Azalea Road Dog Park in Asheville remains closed after Tropical Storm Helene severely damaged the site in September 2024. Do not use the broader Azalea Park hours as evidence that the fenced dog area has reopened. Asheville is redesigning the riverfront complex, including the dog park, and has opened temporary off-leash areas elsewhere.
Plan before you travel
- Current status: Closed. The City of Asheville has not announced a reopening date for Azalea Dog Park.
- Former location: The dog park was within the Azalea Road recreation complex near 498 Azalea Road in Asheville.
- Damage: Helene floodwaters severely damaged and closed Azalea and French Broad River dog parks in September 2024.
- Recovery schedule: The city lists design work during 2025–2027 and construction during 2028–2031. Some amenities could return in phases, but no early dog-park reopening is confirmed.
- Best current option: Use the temporary fenced dog park at Riverbend Park, 100 Bleachery Boulevard, open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Closure and recovery status
Asheville’s current Azalea Park page lists general features such as fishing, parking and soccer fields, but it does not list an operating dog park among the available features. A separate city recovery project specifically includes Azalea Dog Park among the public assets damaged by Helene.
The project team is refining a unified design after public feedback. The city says phased work may allow some amenities to reopen before the full project is complete, but visitors should wait for an explicit dog-park announcement. Follow the official Azalea Parks and Infrastructure Recovery project for the latest design, project-area map and schedule.
Use a temporary Asheville dog park instead
Riverbend Park has a temporary fenced off-leash area at 100 Bleachery Boulevard. The city lists separate sections for large and small dogs and daily hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is intended to remain open while permanent dog parks are rebuilt.
Asheville also lists a temporary dog park at Aston Park, 300 Hilliard Avenue near the gazebo. Check the city’s current park notices before driving because temporary facilities can change as recovery work progresses.
Rules at open temporary dog parks
Keep your dog leashed on public property until you are inside a designated fenced dog park. Supervise play, close gates and remove all waste. Asheville requires dogs six months and older to have a current city license and rabies tag; confirm current licensing details through the city’s Animal Services information before visiting.
What former parkgoers said about Azalea
Before the closure, parkgoers often praised Azalea’s open running space, separate small- and large-dog sections and friendly group of regulars. Visitors also described easy parking and seating around the former enclosures.
Older reviews repeatedly mentioned muddy gate areas after rain and inconsistent water or waste-bag supplies. These comments describe the pre-Helene dog park and should not be read as a report on the future design or current conditions.
More Asheville updates
Read the city’s temporary Riverbend dog park announcement, or browse the Asheville dog park directory while permanent facilities are rebuilt.
Last researched August 31, 2026. To flag a reopening notice or correction, contact DogPark Near Me.
