Photo Credit: Courtesy of Oakland County Parks and Recreation
Forty-five minutes north of Detroit, Mich., dogs may mistake Orion Oaks Dog Park for heaven. Here, in this 24-acre, fenced, off-leash facility, they can mingle with other four-legged friends and take a dip at the dogs-only swimming beach, complete with a dock that allows for hours of jumping, fetching, and doggie-paddling.
Operated by Oakland County Parks and Recreation, the park boasts two trails, a small-dog area, drinking water, picnic shelter, and modern restrooms. Opened in August 2000, the dog park originally measured 7 acres, but was expanded due to high demand and now includes three sections--Dog Park A, B, and C--which are rotated to minimize wear and tear on the turf. In 2011, the dog park greeted 163,219 visitors.
After one season of operation, Park Supervisor Mike Boyd and his staff created a dogs-only swimming beach complete with an 80-foot by 8-foot floating dock that features three separate ramps so dogs can walk up and out of the water. The beach and dock are open Memorial Day through Labor Day.