Off Leash Area Expansion Study

Thank you to everyone who participated in the online survey and the in-person outreach opportunities for the Off-Leash Area Expansion Study this summer at the West Seattle, U District and Columbia City farmers markets. The public comment portion of this study is now closed, and the survey responses are being reviewed and synthesized by Seattle Parks and Recreation staff.

The input you’ve shared with us, in addition to our study findings and factors like geographic equity, will help shape the future expansion of our OLA system and determine which sites will be prioritized for the available funding. The other sites that are not immediately prioritized may function as a blueprint for the department in future years as more funding becomes available for the construction of additional OLAs.

After reviewing the survey responses, SPR will present its findings to the public and post the results on this webpage in Fall/Winter of 2023. There will be additional outreach opportunities at the selected sites to further engage with nearby neighbors and frequent park users.

For information about existing OLAs in Seattle, you can visit our Dog Off-Leash Areas & Map page.

Expansion Study Overview

The connection between humans and our furry friends runs deep in our collective history. From our likely role in their slow evolution from grey wolves into dogs around 15,000 years ago, to the fact that many households today are home to one or more dogs, the increased part dogs play in our society and day-to-day life is undeniable. With this comes the need for increased access to amenities for dogs that allow their owners to exercise and socialize them, make connections with others, and generally raise healthy and happy pets.

SPR is among other leading cities in providing access to legal off-leash areas, constructing the city’s first Off-Leash Area (OLA) in 1997 and growing the system’s footprint to roughly 26 acres across the city today. However, with the exponential growth in the number of dogs we have witnessed among Seattle residents in the last decade, SPR recognizes the need for, and has been working toward, an expanded OLA system. While we have had some success gradually increasing the number of OLAs over the years in partnership with the community, the current situation called for a more concrete and robust response. The OLA Expansion Study, which looked at over 30 sites across SPR's system to determine suitability for OLA development, is one strategy in that response.

• Video presentation on OLA Expansion Study
• Executive Summary on OLA Expansion Study
• Full presentation files (PDF)

The map below illustrates existing OLAs (green dots). The blue dots indicate locations of three new sites already in the planning phase, as funded by the previous cycle of the Metropolitan Park District (MPD). The current MPD cycle (2023-2029) provides funding for the construction of two new OLAs and the design of a third. As mandated by the MPD, one of these OLAs will be constructed in West Seattle and the other OLA can be constructed in any other neighborhood of the city. The third site (funded for design only) may also be constructed anywhere in the city, though construction funds will need to be secured first.*(Alt-text and an explanation of the map is listed at the bottom of this page.)

These sites included in the study were determined not to be suitable for a future OLA:

*Alt-text for map, and location text: 

A map of Seattle showing Existing, Planned and Potential Off-Leash Areas by using green, red and gray dots. Sites already in the planning phase are Georgetown, South Park Community Center and Smith Cove Park. Potential sites needing public input are as follows: Discovery Park North Parking Lot; East Queen Anne Playground; View Ridge Playfield; Ravenna Park; Powell Barnett Park; West Seattle Stadium; Brighton Playfield; Othello Park; Lincoln Park.