Ames Dog Park

This regularly-​tended dog park offers a place for Ames residents to let their dogs run and play off-​leash.
There is a 2-​acre fenced area for small dogs and an 8-​acre fenced area for large dogs, so if you have a puppy or a small breed, you don’t have to worry about your little guy getting trampled or roughed up by rambunctious big dogs (and if you have a big dog, you don’t have to follow her around and constantly stop her from pinning that beagle/​shih tzu/​etc).
There are multiple water fountains (near the entrance, further out into the large dog area) and always a fresh supply of mutt mitts. There are disposal units for full mutt mitts at various spots in the park, though the ones further from the entrance tend to fill up pretty quickly. There is a paved loop in the larger section for walking around the park while your dog plays, with multiple benches along the route.
If you don’t bring a toy with you, you’ll probably be able to find old tennis balls or a frisbee lying around.
This place has a friendly community vibe, complete with regulars (both dog and human), like the man and his developmentally-​disabled son who come out on hot afternoons with big buckets that they fill with fresh water for the dogs. We’ve met lots of nice dog-​people during our time at this park, though to be honest we usually know their dogs’ names long before we learn the humans’ names!