Amici Park

A heavy downtown dog population and constant illegal use by dog owners forced the City’s hand to make this a dog park outside of school hours. During school hours, kids get to play on what is essentially a giant doggy toilet.
The EPA classifies dog poop as a dangerous pollutant. A single gram contains 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which causes serious kidney disorders, intestinal illness, cramps and diarrhea in humans. Dog poop spreads parasites including hookworms, ringworms, and tapeworms. Even after «scooping» the parasite eggs can linger in the grass for years. When a human comes into contact with that sod through everyday activities like walking barefoot or playing, they risk infection from those eggs … even years after the poop is gone.
Fine, it’s now a dog park, but it is also the playground for kids at the adjacent school. The two uses are mutually exclusive in my opinion and I would not recommend parents let their kids venture onto the grassed area.

Looking for a smaller park that is open to all sorts of free running dogs? Or how about some free parking for the Little Italy Farmers Market? Well than you are in luck~! This place has both~!! This wide open field is just a park, nothing but a park. Grass. Trash cans. A bench or two. And lover’s of canines. You can’t beat the ease and price of the parking (Free) and the access to the area is a perfect quick jaunt to warm you up to shop, and walk off the great eats you just filled your tummy tum tum with.

I came here for the Summer Italian Film Fest on Saturday night. I understand it is held every Sat night until the end of August. It was fabulous! The films are in Italian with English subtitles. The one we watched was Terraferma a fantastic 2011 film! There was a suggested $ 5 donation per person. The area of the park we were in was on the street corner with the area sectioned off. We brought a blanket and others brought picnic baskets with snacks and popcorn. Thankfully there was parking in the lot next to the school. The park is clean and well kept with pretty flowers in the area we were in. I will definitely be back! Oh and I will post pictures too!

I love Amici Park! It’s a schoolyard during the school day and a dog park in the evenings and on the weekends. It’s that simple. There are actually signs that say this too, so the reviews that talk about being confused must be not be able to read. Alas… Unlike every other dog park in San Diego/​the world, Amici has grass! ALWAYS. There is always grass. The only downside to this place is there is no water fountain and on hot days, your pup needs a drink in between laps! Yes, there is a fair share of dog poo left by irresponsible owners, but those are the same people without jobs that try to bring their pets here illegally during the school day, so to each his own. I’m glad Amici is here and so is my dog!

Took a trip down to Little Italy with friends and tripped onto this great dog park. Well, it’s not really a dog park and the dogs are supposed to be leashed, but none of them are. There were about 10 dogs and they were having the time of their lives running all over the little park.
It was a hot day but there was a shady tree and we enjoyed watching the action for awhile. Will come back here with my little prince.
Right next to the Bocce ball court.

A great place to relax and enjoy that wonderful food that you took to go. It’s quiet at times but active during the weekends. In a great location and yes it’s clearly well kept. I come here mostly as a resting point when I do my 7 mile run around the city. I have yet to see any dogs here but then again I’m mostly here during the afternoon hours if the weekday.

Nice place to sit and have lunch or gelato.

My pups and I absolutely love this place.
After 2pm on weekdays it’s open to the public and all hours on the weekends.
A large grassy area for dogs and people to play. A sidewalk around the perimeter for jogging around too! And a small playground to one end for the little ones.
It’s the perfect unofficial dog park for the residents of Little Italy!
No matter what day or time I come there is usually at least one other dog here so it’s great for doggie socializing.
Would I come play a sports game here in the grass? Probably not due to the fact animals often do their business here (although poop is always picked up by the responsible owners that I’ve always encountered). But that’s why there is a basketball court to one end and a bacci ball area too.
Although the fact it’s not fully enclosed scared me during my first couple of trips here, it’s made me realize that only owners who trust their dogs and dogs who follow commands well come here, so never any issues here with poorly mannered animals/​owners.

This place is weird but I suppose it serves its purpose. I believe it is a playground to a school that doubles as a dog park but it is really hard to tell. Are there designated hours when the kids can run and not get eaten by dogs and vice versa? Well let’s hope no kids are eating dogs…
When I was here there was one pup and no kids. Granted it was a Saturday and the farmers market was wrapping up but I expected more activity. It really is the only patch of grass in all of Little Italy so why wouldn’t dog owners bring the mutts here? I will tell you one thing I saw a couple of girls doing here that I would not recommend. Sunbathing.
That’s just gross.

Love the park area and on Saturday you can’t beat the farmers market. Walking distance from my home with lots to see and do.

This park is one of the reasons Little Italy is such a great place to live. The park itself is quaint and adorable, with a pavilion that serves as a great place to take a break on market days and just watch the crowd stroll by. They have a very nice bocce ball pitch that reminds you of the Italian heritage of this community, and it is nicely landscaped. Walk up the street and there is the city’s best «unofficial» dog park, wher you will find dogs of all sizes and breeds frolicking in the open green area. My dog ‘Ele, looks forward to her vists there and I have never had a problem with owners not picking up after their pets.

I live fairly close to this park, and its a good place to let your dog run around and play. They have basketball hoops, a slide and rec area for kids, and a gated entrance. Occasionally they have a group setting up for an event or teams playing soccer, but if you’re downtown, there really is no other park that is pet friendly and fenced in. They used to ticket pets without a leash as it really wasn’t designated a ‘dog park’ it is actually a part of the attached kids charter school, but in 2010 they changed things around so now after 2:30pm pets are allowed to roam around there under supervision (that’s what I was told by someone at the school). It can get dark at night as they usually only leave one or two lights on by the field.

I stepped in a big doggy bomb playing home run derby here this weekend :-(

I heart this place, it’s the perfect unofficial dog park… you know the ones with the signs that say «keep your dog leashed at all times» but everyone has their dog off the leash running around? Yeah, that’s Amici Park.
Only downside is that because it’s not an official dog park others come and play soccer, exercise and hang out. But most days from about 5−7pm it’s taken over by dogs.
If you live in Little Italy and are looking for a place to tire out your dog, this is it!

I was at Amici Park wen they 1^st opened it back wen I went to Washington Elm… its not your traditional park in the sense of trees n stuff but its a place to relax and enjoy the hood… u can kick it on the steps on the corner or walk your dog up at the dog park… I grew up skating here an its nice to see a new group of little fools tearing up the park… if your ever walking by an u see a group of hoodlums posted at the corner dont trip were friendly wel say hello especially if ur a good lookin female lol… we grew up here an were more than happy to play tour guide…

It’s nothing fancy — it’s a small grassy area in the city that is basically treated as a place to play a game of soccer, toss a ball, or let your kids play on the little jungle gym. But mainly it’s used as a makeshift dog park. You are supposed to keep your dog leashed per the city signs, but most folks don’t. It’s a good place for us city folk to be able to get out on a patch of grass and play fetch with our K9’s. P. S. There are a lot of smaller dogs due to condo living so folks like me with dogs the size of a pony may find the mix hit or miss.

If this was a children’s park, I’d give it 2 stars, but I don’t think this is a park for kids. Sure, they say it’s meant for Bacci Ball, but I think this park is most useful as a location for parties or venues.
For example, it’s an excellent location for a wedding reception if you’re getting married across the street at Our Lady of the Rosary. With it’s open courtyard and shaded amphitheater style seating area, it’s also a great location for the Farmers Market, which they have every Saturday.
Last but not least, this park can easily be transformed for a fundraiser or gala event. Case in point, Ferragosto, the annual Little Italy Association fundraiser/​party. In 2010, it was Rome for the evening (see some of my posted photos). There was ample room for 2 stages, one for the Anthology band and one for Caesar Augustus, Cleopatra & the Roman Senate to make their speeches and announcements. There was a large dance floor, 18 restaurant booths, several wine & beverage stations, and plenty of tables for hundreds of people to dine.
So again, if you’re looking for a park for your kids, don’t bother coming here. But if you’re coming here for some sort of a celebration or outdoor market, you will not be disappointed.

This is not a park. Just some grass with a crappy playground.

I agree San Diego has a bocci obsession but it is quite addictive.
Pretty cool place to take your dog if you live in the area. It’s not really a dog park but on weekends and in the evenings there is a fair amount of dogs there. Be careful though, not being an official dog park, you are still eligible to make a donation to city coffers via a fine for having your dog off leash. I’ve only seen it happen once but it’s possible.
Other than being able to bring your dog for some exercise and of course some heated bocci tournaments there isn’t much to it.