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The Best Dog Parks & Beaches in Richmond

Richmond is a river city, so people assume their dogs can run and swim along the James — but that’s the big misconception here. The City designates only three official off-leash parks (Barker Field, Church Hill, and Northside), and everything else in the James River Park System, including the famously dog-friendly Pony Pasture, is leash-only. There’s no sanctioned off-leash river swim in the metro. What you do get is a solid set of fenced dog parks across the city, Henrico, and Chesterfield. With humid Virginia summers and limited shade at most, timing matters. Here are the verified spots, with the rules that actually apply, each checked against the official source.

8 spots mapped · 2026 · updated June 26, 2026

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Off-leash dog parks

  1. Barker Field Dog Park (Byrd Park)

    Byrd Park / The Fan · 1300 Blanton Ave, Richmond, VA 23221

    Richmond's largest and best-known off-leash park, a roughly 5-acre fenced field in the southeast corner of Byrd Park near the Carillon, with separate small- and large-dog sections. Managed by Friends of Barker Field with the city.

    Fenced dog parkFreeOff-leash all day · sunrise–sunset
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  2. Church Hill Dog Park (Chimborazo Park)

    Church Hill · 3201 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23223

    An off-leash dog park on the eastern lower terrace of historic Chimborazo Park in Church Hill, with separate areas for large and small dogs plus skyline views. One of only three off-leash areas the City of Richmond officially designates.

    Fenced dog parkFreeOff-leash all day · sunrise–sunset
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  3. Northside Dog Park

    Bellevue / Northside

    A fully fenced, double-gated off-leash park in Richmond's Bellevue neighborhood with separate sections for big and small dogs. The third of the City of Richmond's officially designated off-leash areas.

    Fenced dog parkFreeOff-leash all day · sunrise–sunset
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  4. Short Pump Park Dog Park

    Short Pump · 3329 Pump Rd, Henrico, VA 23233

    A modern fenced off-leash park inside Short Pump Park with separate small- and large-dog areas, each surfaced in synthetic dog-park turf, and double-gated entries.

    Fenced dog parkFreeOff-leash all day · dawn–dusk
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  5. Dorey Dog Park (Dorey Park)

    Varina · 2999 Darbytown Rd, Henrico, VA 23231

    A 1-acre off-leash dog park inside Dorey Park in eastern Henrico (Varina), enclosed by a 6-foot fence with two separate areas for small and large dogs. Connected to the broader Dorey Park trails and the Virginia Capital Trail.

    Fenced dog parkFreeOff-leash all day · dawn–dusk
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  6. Ruff House Dog Park (Rockwood Park)

    Rockwood Park · 3401 Courthouse Rd, North Chesterfield, VA 23236

    A fenced off-leash dog park inside Rockwood Park, Chesterfield's oldest park (171 acres), with separate runs for small and large dogs. The surrounding park adds miles of leashed nature trails.

    Fenced dog parkFreeOff-leash all day · 7:30 AM–dusk
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  7. Chester Dog Park (Goyne Park)

    Goyne Park · 5300 Ecoff Ave, Chester, VA 23831

    A leash-free park in a shaded, wooded lot inside Goyne Park in Chester, with separate runs for small and large dogs plus an agility training area. The tree cover makes it one of the cooler local options on hot days.

    Fenced dog parkFreeOff-leash all day · 7:30 AM–dusk
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  8. Clover Hill Dog Park

    Hull Street · 13900 Hull Street Rd, Midlothian, VA 23112

    Chesterfield's newest off-leash dog park, behind the Career and Technical Center off Hull Street, with generously sized separate runs for small and large dogs. A water hose lets dogs cool off in summer.

    Fenced dog parkFreeOff-leash all day · 7:30 AM–dusk
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Richmond dog parks & beaches: FAQ

Can my dog go off-leash along the James River in Richmond?
No — and this is the big misconception. The City of Richmond designates only three official off-leash areas (Barker Field at Byrd Park, the Church Hill park at Chimborazo, and Northside). The entire James River Park System, including Pony Pasture, Belle Isle and the river itself, is leash-only. There is no sanctioned off-leash river swim in Richmond, despite the city’s river-friendly reputation.
Where can dogs go off-leash in Richmond?
In fenced dog parks. The city runs Barker Field (its largest, ~5 acres at Byrd Park), Church Hill (Chimborazo) and Northside. Henrico County adds Short Pump and Dorey, and Chesterfield County adds Ruff House (Rockwood), Chester (Goyne) and the newer Clover Hill park. All are free and fully fenced, most with separate large- and small-dog sides.
Which Richmond dog park is best on a hot day?
Chester Dog Park at Goyne Park sits in a shaded, wooded lot, so it stays cooler than the open-turf parks, and Chesterfield’s Clover Hill park has a water hose for dogs to cool off. Most of the others (Barker Field, Chimborazo, Northside) have little shade — go at dawn or dusk and bring water in Virginia’s humid summers.
What are the rules at the county dog parks?
Chesterfield’s parks are open 7:30 AM to dusk and require dogs to be leashed until inside the fence, with spike/pinch/choke collars removed and current license/rabies proof. Henrico’s are dawn to dusk and require handlers to be 16+ with dogs in view and under control. The city parks are sunrise to sunset with no lights.
Where can my dog be off-leash right now?
Open the live map — each spot shows whether off-leash is allowed at the current date and time.
Can I add a spot?
Yes — open the live map, drop a pin, snap a photo, and it’s on the map for every dog owner.

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