Recreation Dog Park in Long Beach has been around since 1996, and it’s grown from a two-acre space into something substantially larger to handle all the dogs that show up. You’ll find it at Recreation Park on East 7th Street, tucked between the 18-hole golf course and the Fly Casting Pond, which gives you a sense of how much actual green space there is here.

The park operates dawn to dusk every day, so you’ve got flexible timing for whenever fits your schedule. What makes it useful is the dedicated off-leash area where dogs can actually run around without restriction. The grounds are spacious enough that even when it’s moderately busy, there’s room for dogs to spread out rather than everyone being crammed into a small corner. You’ll see a real mix of dogs here—everything from small breeds to large ones, older dogs just puttering around, and younger ones burning off energy.

The location near the golf course and pond means the surrounding area feels less urban than you might expect for Long Beach. There are trees, open grass, and enough shade if you need to wait out the hot part of the day. Since it’s part of the larger Recreation Park, there’s also plenty of parking nearby, which matters more than you’d think when you’re hauling a dog and supplies.

The park does have rules and regulations—nothing unusual, but worth checking the official Long Beach Parks website beforehand so you know what to expect. It’s the kind of neighborhood dog park that gets regular use from locals, so you might recognize some of the same dogs and owners if you become a regular. The fact that it’s been operating since the 90s and actually expanded says something about how well it’s served the community.