New Dog Park Opened at Vista Del Norte Park
Today, the community celebrated the grand opening of the new Vista Del Norte Dog Park, the City’s 26th off-leash dog park. With the nearest dog parks previously being at least four miles away, this addresses a long-standing gap in the City’s pet-friendly spaces.
“Today we’re making it even easier for families to get outside and enjoy some quality time with their pets,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Albuquerque remains a committed pet-friendly city constantly elevating quality of life for our residents and their furry friends.”
The Vista Del Norte Dog Park is the first in Albuquerque to reuse downed Cottonwood logs for tree protection and seating at the park. The 0.75-acre park is divided into small dog and large dog areas, and also includes shade and water stations, making it a comfortable space for pets and their owners year-round. “Dusty”, owned by Barbara, was named winner of the dog costume contest and honorary “Puppy Prince/Princess” of the dog park for its opening day.
“This dog park adds a great new feature to a fantastic park that has seen steady increase in use,” said Parks & Recreation Department Director Dave Simon. “Great parks include happy pups.”
In 2024, Albuquerque was named of the best dog park cities, according to LawnStarter. The City is ranked #7 nationally, up from #11 in 2023.
The Vista Del Norte Dog Park was funded by City GO Bonds and was planned and constructed with the help from Consensus Planning, Franklins Earthmoving, and Lee Landscapes. The City’s network of dog parks will expand further in 2025, as other dog park projects are nearing completion at Wells Park, Phil Chacon Park, Juan Tabo Hills Park, and Los Altos Park. Planning is also underway for new dog parks at Pat Hurley Park, Heritage Hills Park, and the Uptown area.
The grand opening also featured an adoption event through the Animal Welfare Department. One dog was adopted at the ceremony as new owners were able to take home their forever friend with waived adoption fees.
For more information on the City’s dog parks, visit cabq.gov/dogparks.