Fenced Dog Parks in Ottawa

Most of Ottawa's 153 off-leash dog parks are open, unfenced areas. If your dog needs a secure, enclosed space to run free — or if you have a puppy, a dog in training, or a dog that doesn't have reliable recall — a fenced dog park is what you need.

Ottawa has 9 parks with fenced off-leash areas. These are city parks where a section is enclosed with fencing specifically for dogs to play off-leash. Here's every one of them.

Every Fenced Dog Park in Ottawa

Jack Purcell Park — Downtown

Ottawa's only fenced off-leash area in the downtown core. A small but popular enclosed space in a park that's walking distance from the Glebe and Centretown.

Address: Jack Purcell Lane, Ottawa
Rules: Dogs allowed off leash in fenced area. Dogs on leash in rest of park.
Area: Downtown

View park details →

Sylvia Holden Park — The Glebe

A fenced off-leash area in the Glebe, one of Ottawa's most walkable neighborhoods.

Address: Holmwood Avenue, Ottawa
Rules: Dogs allowed off leash in fenced area. Dogs on leash in rest of park. Dogs must always be under the control of their handler. Dogs are prohibited from being within five (5) meters of all children's play areas and pools.
Area: The Glebe

View park details →

McNabb Park — Centretown

A unique setup — the fenced baseball diamond becomes an off-leash dog area outside of weekday hours.

Address: Percy Street, Ottawa
Rules: No dogs from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Friday. Dogs on leash at all other times. Dogs allowed off leash in fenced baseball diamond.
Area: Downtown

View park details →

Riverain Park — Vanier

A fenced off-leash area along the Rideau River in the east end.

Address: Riverain Park, Ottawa
Rules: Dogs allowed off leash while inside fenced area. Dogs on leash in rest of park. Dogs must always be under the control of their handler.
Area: East Ottawa

View park details →

Big Bird Park — Orleans

A fenced off-leash zone within a larger park in Orleans.

Address: Big Bird Park, Orleans
Rules: Dogs allowed off leash in fenced area. Dogs on leash in rest of park.
Area: Orleans

View park details →

Shefford Sports Park — East End

A fenced off-leash area within a sports park complex.

Address: Shefford Road, Gloucester
Rules: Dogs allowed off leash in fenced area. Dogs on leash in rest of park.
Area: East End

View park details →

Garfield Park — Nepean

The off-leash area is restricted to the fenced section only — dogs must be on-leash everywhere else in the park.

Address: Garfield Park, Nepean
Rules: Dogs may be off leash within the fenced area only. Dogs on-leash everywhere else. Dogs must always be under the control of their handler in all areas.
Area: Nepean

View park details →

David Bartlett Park — Riverside South

A large park in Manotick with off-leash access in most of the park, with the fenced pathway section being on-leash.

Address: 35 acres, Manotick
Rules: Dogs must be on leash south of the fence along the pathway. Dogs may be off leash rest of park.
Area: Riverside South

View park details →

Heron Park — South Ottawa

Dogs are allowed in the grassland meadow area outside the fenced sections (play area, pool, sports fields are no-dog zones).

Address: Heron Park, Ottawa
Rules: No dogs in play area, pool, ball diamond, sports field. Dogs allowed in grassland outside fenced area (meadow).
Area: South Ottawa

View park details →

Fenced vs. Unfenced — Which Is Right for Your Dog?

Choose fenced if:

Your dog doesn't have reliable recall yet
You have a puppy in training
Your dog is reactive and needs a controlled environment
You want peace of mind that your dog can't run into traffic

Unfenced is fine if:

Your dog has good recall and stays close
You want more space (most unfenced parks are larger)
You're looking for trails and natural areas

Ottawa has 153 off-leash parks total — see the complete list →

Find More Dog Parks

Information may change. If you spot anything outdated or incorrect, let us know.