As of mid-March, 2025, the keys to the dog park have been handed over to the volunteer committee. Membership sign-up information will be emailed to everyone currently receiving dog park emails from “TGSNA Dog Park.” Please email dogpark@tgsna.org to ensure you’re a part of the email list.

Groundbreaking began fall 2024, with completion of the project in March 2025. 

The dog park process began in 2017 with Parks identifying a move-forward plan. Volunteer committee work began in 2021. Tower Grove South Neighborhood Association adopted the Dog Park Committee as a new standing committee in 2022. The Dog Park application was completed in summer of 2022.

The project is funded by former 15th Ward Aldermanic Funds, voted on by neighbors in 2016 Participatory Budgeting, coupled with Metro Parks funding. The dog park was ranked #5 and was the last of the projects to be started and completed.

Dog Park membership-based annual dues will allow access into the gated area for one or multiple dogs, similar to other dog parks in the area. Annual membership to the Dog Park will follow a calendar year schedule and be as follows:

Tower Grove South & 6th Ward Neighbors
1 dog = $45/year
2 dogs = $60/year
3 dogs = $75/year

Non-Resident
1 dog = $65/year
2 dogs = $80/year
3 dogs = $95/year

There is a limit of three dogs per household. 

The McDonald Dog Park features a double gated entry; locked keypad accessed by paid members with proof of current vaccinations; is approximately 5,000 sqft; located adjacent to existing pavilion structure in the northwest corner of the park; has water access; a bench; shade from existing mature park trees. 

The Dog Park Committee, as a standing committee of the Tower Grove South Neighborhood Association, is in charge of maintaining the facility and being good stewards of the funds that will be needed to do general ongoing maintenance and eventual replacement of the canine-turf dog surface. 

The dog-specific K9 Grass, by ForeverLawn® is designed with maximum wear-and-tear for a dog park like this one. The turf has an average lifespan of 12-15 years under normal environmental and use conditions.

Hours of operating will be 6:00 a.m. daily open, in accordance with all City park opening times. We ask that members please exit the dog park by one hour after sunset (although City Parks are open until 10 p.m. daily all year). Special hours will soon be listed to members for older and shy dogs.

Parks will continue to service the trash cans in and around the park, weekly. Dog waste bags are the responsibility of each dog owner, as is cleaning up after your dog(s).

The existing street parking will continue to service the needs of the park. We do not anticipate a significant amount of additional traffic/parking needs from dog park visitors, and local dog park research tells us that many neighborhood members will walk their dogs from home to visit.

This is the first accessible dog park project in the City’s Park System and one of only three public parks in the City of St. Louis with any known accessible amenities.

Current vaccinations, paid membership, liability waiver, and agree to park policies. Special hours will soon be listed to members for older and shy dogs. Our hope is to also soon announce socialization hours, as an opportunity for dog owners to meet up with others.

Members will be provided best practice guidance for new members on how to best introduce your dog to others. Every dog is unique.

Neighborhood support, sponsors and memberships will continue to drive the dog park’s success and sustainability. Consider becoming a sponsor today! Email dogpark@tgsna.org for more information. 

We welcome anyone to become a part of the committee or to drop in on our Dog Park Committee calls. You can give as little as one hour a month to make a difference. We’re typically meeting at 5:30 p.m., the third Monday of each month.

The Dog Park is intended to be a welcoming place for all who gather, even if you don’t own a dog. With inclusivity in mind, we welcome all to be a part of ongoing conversations on how we can make the dog park a success and welcome your constructive feedback.

We anticipate overall park cleanup days to increase due to the efforts of the Dog Park Committee and neighborhood volunteers, and Parks has added additional trash cans outside the dog park. 

We’re actively working to identify partnership opportunities that make sense for the sustainability and awareness of the dog park, intending to be a good neighbor to the community in which we serve.