Seven years ago, I walked into Polk County Animal Control and walked out with a 7-pound reason (at the time 
) to know every dog park in this county.
His name is Gimli, and he's a black lab mix (now 80 pounds).
If you're already subscribed to the newsletter you already met him in our welcome email (he's been in there since day one).
And if you've been reading The Squeeze for a while, you already know he runs this operation more than we do.
Which means it should be no surprise that we chose this to be the first list that we curated for the new Best Of Polk series.
We already have our Best Of Food series that has been the most popular series on the site (Mike's Polk Food Quest coming in at number two); but now we're going to be highlighting more places to go and things to do!
So to kick things off, we went out and scoured the internet and every Polk County group we could find and put together the most complete dog park guide in the county.
Here's everything we found.
Author’s Note:
Katie and I frequent Auburndale Dog Park the most being that it's 5 minutes away and attached to Auburndale TECO Recreation Trail — but I made sure to keep any biases out of the ranking system!
Best Overall: Dog Leg Woods (Lakeland)
The Best Dog Parks In Polk County, Florida
If you ask anyone in Polk County where to take their dog, this is the name you hear first. Every time.
Dog Leg Woods sits in south Lakeland off Cleveland Heights Blvd, tucked right next to the Cleveland Heights Golf Course. Three acres of off-leash space, separate areas for large and small dogs, and most importantly for us Floridians: a huge amount of shade.
That last part isn't a small thing. This is Central Florida. Shade is the difference between a great trip and a miserable one.
There's a 15-space parking lot at the entrance. If that fills up, you can park at the golf course and walk over via Three Parks Trail. The golf course also has a dog-friendly back porch, so if you want to grab a bite after, you don't have to leave your pup in the car.
Bottom line: This is the consensus #1 in Polk County. If you haven't been, start here.
Quick Info:
Address: 3326 Cleveland Heights Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33803
Size areas: Large / Small (45 lbs. — Separated)
Hours: 7AM - 8PM
Best Runner-Up: Lake Crago Dog Park (Lakeland)
The Best Dog Parks In Polk County, Florida
If Dog Leg Woods didn't exist, this would be the undisputed #1. And honestly, depending on where you live in Lakeland, it might still be your go-to.
Lake Crago is in north Lakeland and it checks every box: separate areas for large and small dogs (the cutoff is 45 lbs), double-gated entry, benches, shade, and actual bathrooms for humans. That last one is rarer than it should be at dog parks.
A few things worth knowing before you go: the park opens at 9am on Wednesdays (later than other days), so plan accordingly. Check the City of Lakeland's website for any closures or holiday hours before making the trip.
Bottom line: A legitimate top-tier park. Worth the drive from anywhere in the county.
Quick Info:
Address: 525 Lake Crago Dr, Lakeland, FL, US, 33805
Size areas: Large / Small (Separated)
Hours: 7AM - 7PM (Weds Open at 9AM)
Best for a Full Outing: DiOGi Park (Mulberry)
The Best Dog Parks In Polk County, Florida
This one is more than a dog park. It's a full afternoon.
DiOGi Park sits inside Loyce E. Harpe Park on Carter Road in Mulberry, and it holds a special place in Polk County history. It was established in memory of Sheriff's Deputy Vernon "Matt" Williams and his K-9 partner, DiOGi.
There's a reason people love this park beyond just the amenities.
And the amenities aren't bad either. Two fenced play areas (one for large dogs, one for smaller ones), agility equipment, doggie water fountains, and covered picnic shelters. Add in the walking trails throughout the larger park and you've got a solid few hours on your hands.
It's also Polk County's first dog park, opened in 2007.
Bottom line: Best choice if you want to make a real trip out of it. Great for a weekend morning.
Quick Info:
Address: 500 W Carter Rd, Mulberry, FL 33860
Size areas: Large / Small (Separated)
Hours: 8AM - 8PM
Best for Active Dogs: Auburndale Dog Park
The Best Dog Parks In Polk County, Florida
If your dog has energy to burn, like a lot of energy, Auburndale is your spot.
Located at the south end of the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex on Denton Avenue, this 2-acre park comes loaded with an agility/obstacle course, separate areas for large and small dogs, water fountains for both dogs and people, pet waste stations, benches, and parking.
It's also right next to the Auburndale TECO Recreation Trail, so you can tack on a leashed walk before or after if you want.
Bottom line: Best setup for a dog that needs more than just running in circles. The agility equipment alone makes it worth the trip.
Quick Info:
Address: 318 Denton Ave, Auburndale, FL 33823
Size areas: Large / Small (Separated)
Hours: 6AM - 7PM
Hidden Gem: Cook Park Dog Park (North Lakeland)
The Best Dog Parks In Polk County, Florida
This one doesn't come up as often in conversation. But it should.
Cook Park is in north Lakeland near US Hwy 98 N, tucked inside a larger multi-use park with trails and amenities.
It's legitimately set up and worth knowing about. If Dog Leg Woods or Lake Crago are crowded on a Saturday morning (and they can be), this is your move.
Bottom line: The less-crowded alternative. A great backup or a go-to if you're in that part of town.
Quick Info:
Address: 955 Wedgewood Estates Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33809
Size areas: Large / Small (Separated)
Hours: 7AM - 6PM
More Options Across Polk County
These parks may not be the headliners, but they're real options depending on where you live in Polk County:
- Bartow Dog Park at Mary Holland Park — Newer park, shaded, separate areas for large and small dogs
- Ember Dog Park (Haines City) — Newer addition to a growing area, located at 896 Lily Ave
- John "Doc" Haromy Dog Park (Lake Wales) — Solid local option at 783 S. 9th St
- Northeast Regional Park Dog Park (Davenport) — Fully fenced with agility equipment; great for the east side of the county
THANKS!
We put real time into this list.
But you all know this county better than any algorithm does.
If there's a dog park we missed, one that's gotten better (or worse) recently, or a hidden gem we should know about, reply and tell us.
We'll update this list and give credit where it's due.
And if you're reading this and you don't yet have a dog, well, we might know a place.
Every week in the newsletter we feature two pets from the Polk County pound who need a home. One dog. One cat. Both deserving of a good one.
That's how we got Gimli.
Seven years later, he's still the best decision we ever made.
- Mike Romaine
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