Dog park finally opens off Allen Parkway

On Saturday Houston-area dogs and their owners got to experience a new park just for them off Allen Parkway and Montrose.

The Johnny Steele Dog Park, one of the largest parks of its kind in the city, celebrated its opening with a party for pets and people.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was on hand to help with the ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m., along with benefactors Richard and Nancy Kinder and a host of other local dignitaries.

The weather cooperated, with sunny skies and warmer temperatures than Houston has seen in the past few weeks, delighting man and beast. It was a nice change from the bitter cold and lack of sunlight that’s been the norm since after the beginning of the year.

The $1.5 million, 2-acre park features fencing, two large ponds, shade structures, a place for dogs to wash off from a day of play, plus seating, lighted areas and 17 new parallel parking spaces along Allen Parkway to accommodate human visitors.

There were a few traffic snarls in the area as dog owners came and went with their four-legged family members. 

The new fencing will create a needed barrier between the dog park, which is part of Buffalo Bayou Park, and trail users. The area has long been a place for dogs, but some were kept off leash by their owners and would run in front of bikes or runners. 

There are also designated areas for big and small dogs to roam among those of their own size, though dog owners know that even the smallest dogs act 10 feet tall.

On Saturday afternoon the section for large dogs was teeming with barking activity, while the smaller, daintier animals yapped and pranced on the other side.  All dogs, it seemed, were taken with the ponds. 

Those who live in nearby Montrose, Midtown, and the Washington Avenue areas only have a few minutes’ walk to the doggie haven.

One local resident, musician Chris Wise, was there with his lab pointer mix named Rufus. He took a half day off from his job at Cactus Music to get in some park time. He says that it could become a hot spot for Houston singles.

“I’ve probably dated less women now that I have a dog,” he laughed. “I think any dog park can be a great place to meet other singles.”

“Like-minded dogs could mean like-minded people,” Wise says.

Other dog parks aren't as centrally located as this one, which he appreciates.

“The nearest thing like this is Millie Bush Dog Park,” Wise says. That park, just south of George Bush Park off Westheimer, is a bit farther away than he would like. 

He’s excited for the pond area, hoping to get Rufus used to swimming. 

David McCartney brought his three small pups (Lucy, Chewie, and Buddy) with him to take in the sunshine.

“The park is beautiful. The scenery is so pretty. It’s going to be a relaxing place on the weekends,” he said. His dogs shied away from the water while the others jumped right in. 

The park, named for a noted Houston landscape architect, is a part of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership's $58 million transformation of Buffalo Bayou Park. The entire project is about 75 percent complete and looks to be completed by May of this year. 

The park will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily but will be closed temporarily in April to reseed for the summer months. 

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