Simmonds Family Dog Park

This is a beautiful dog park and well managed. I went for a husky meet up expecting it to be muddy but it wasn’t. There are several different areas, including a small dog area and multiple double gates to prevent escape. There are poop bags available and plenty of trash cans. Running water and shady areas are also available. You do need to have a Hamilton County park pass on your car for admittance to the parking lot. My only complaint is that the fence is short at only 4ft. For a husky such as mine, jumping over is a concern.

Multiple play areas, all huge! One gravel with agility equipment, all others grass. Nice people and dogs, most often others were there. Unfortunately the large dog grass areas were closed due to rain the entire time I was in town and the large dog area was the gravel one which is tough on paws. Seems to me they could alternate between the two grass areas? Instead, all of the large dog owners waited for the small dog area to empty and used that instead. Rangers seemed OK with it, but all would prefer using a large dog grass area.

We took our new pooch here for the first time today and had a blast! I never knew this place existed until recently, and it’s wonderful. Talk about a hidden gem! It’s part of Miami Whitewater Forest, so admission is free, you just need your Great Parks parking permit. There are several separate fields where the dogs can run free — make sure you pick the right one for your dog!
We spend most of our time in Field 4, which is the largest. It’s grassy, full of trees, and varied terrain to keep your pup on her toes. There’s a doggy water fountain and plenty of benches for Mommies and Daddies, but you’ll probably want to be up running around with your Best Friend!
The gravel-​covered field is nice, too. It’s a little smaller, but still plenty big for the dogs to run and have fun playing with each other. There’s a nice obstacle course here, like the ones they use in dog shows. Don’t bring treats to train your pup on the ropes, though — people and doggy food are prohibited.
Feel free to let Lassie off the leash anywhere within the fenced-​in runs. Just make sure she’s in the size-​appropriate playground — there are separate entrances for small dogs (under 22lbs) and large dogs.
Our dog just came home from the shelter less than a week ago, and we were nervous about how she would be with other dogs, so we stayed close by and put her leash back on if she got too rowdy. The park’s policy states you must remove your dog immediately at the first sign of aggression, so we were careful not to even let her excitement escalate that far.
Also, make sure you clean up after your dog when he goes Number 2! There are bags and cans available, so we can keep the park nice for everyone. And fill in any holes your dog digs.
We were there for only about 30 minutes, and the excitement and exercise wore her out. We’ll definitely be back, though, and hope to work up to longer outings!