Dog Parks Open/Closed During Coronavirus Crisis

A constant refrain from health officials during the coronavirus stay-at-home order has been for people to get exercise outdoors — while still practicing social (physical) distancing.

Dog walking is being encouraged as a means of staying physically and mentally healthy. But the constantly changing status of parks and open space, by multiple agencies, during this time has been confusing.

As of today, all Golden Gate National Recreation Area parking lots are closed, but trails and open space areas remain accessible to the public (GGNRA recommends walking or biking into these areas). 

San Francisco Rec & Park has closed all park facilities, playgrounds and “enclosed” dog parks, which means any fenced-in dog park is not accessible — gates are locked at Upper Douglass, Walter Haas, Upper Noe Rec (Joby’s Run), St. Mary’s Park, Rincon Hill Dog Park, and Golden Gate Park Dog Training Area. Neighborhood Dog Play Areas located in open space areas are still accessible at places like Stern Grove, McLaren Park and Bernal Hill. (Note that parking lots are closed.)

For a complete list of the status of parks and open space throughout the Bay Area, see “Bay Area parks during coronavirus: What’s open, closed this week” by San Francisco Chronicle Outdoors Writer Tom Stienstra, April 8, 2020