Kansas City’s First Membership-Only Dog Park Off and Running (and Barking) at West Terrace Park

Downtown Kansas City’s population boom has not only been people, many of the new residents are co-habitating with their favorite canines.

That’s the impetus for the first membership-only dog park at West Terrace Park on the west edge of downtown near Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventh Street. The 1.5-acre dog park opened July 30 and has 175 members so far with about 200 dogs.

“It’s our only dog park with memberships because its one of the smaller dog parks,” said Jimmi Lossing senior landscape architect with the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department. “We knew it would get a lot of use and this allows us communicate with members.”

She said it’s important to know how to reach members to let them know when the park needs to be closed for reseeding or other maintenance work. It also gives owners peace of mind that all the dogs romping there are up to date on their rabies vaccinations.

To join, pet owners must go to the Parks Department website, print out the application, fill it out and bring it with proof of your pup’s rabies vaccination along with the $5 membership fee to one of the department’s community centers:

-Tony Aguirre Community Center, 2050 W. Pennway.
-Westport Roanoke Community Center, 3601 Roanoke Rd.
-Garrison Community Center, 1124 E. Fifth St.
-Gregg/Klice Community Center, 1600 John “Buck” O’Neil Way.

Members receive a key fob that gets them into the dog park which is open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Additional fobs can be purchase for $10 each.

Lossing said there’s a dog park Facebook page for communication and a phone number for information too, 816-513-WOOF (9663).

“We have 175 members so far and I think it’s a good indication of who’s interested,” she said. “With all the new downtown residents, people need a place where they’re able to let their dog run around and have fun.”

She said there are no plans to place a cap on the number of memberships.