Thanks to the generous support of the community of The Valley and friends, the Mad River Valley Dog Park is now open.
The park, which began as a result of a meeting that the Mad River Path initiated in 2022 to address concerns about dog behavior on trails, is a dedicated off-leash space for dogs and their people to play and socialize. The park is located in Warren behind Brooks Field and serves the entire Mad River Valley and its visitors. The park is owned by the town of Warren and is managed by the Mad River Dog Park Committee and was built by a group of volunteers. The Mad River Valley Recreation District is its fiscal sponsor.
The park features a 1.5-acre fully fenced-in park with small dog and large dog sections. There is a welcome center, where visitors can find tools, toys, poop bags and more. A wheelchair ramp makes the building accessible, and the raised platform allows people who do not want to enter the park fence to watch and enjoy watching dogs play. Inside the park fence there are gathering areas for people to sit and agility structures for dogs to play on. A shade structure, to be added over the next few months, will help protect visitors from sun and weather. Dog waste only can be deposited in the bins provided and will be picked up weekly by A&J Recycling.
The park was funded through private contributions from sponsors and donors. These crowdfunded contributions were matched by a grant from the Vermont Better Places Program. Major sponsors and partners include the Mad River Valley Recreation District, the Mad River Valley Rotary Club, the Mad River Path, Small Dog Electronics, Kristen and Skip Rodgers, PAWsitive Pantry, Mehuron’s Supermarket, The Valley Reporter, Jennifer Bennett, Dr. Sarah Spencer, John and Leslie Reynolds, Mt. Mansfield Dentistry and Valley Dental Associates, Tom Mehuron, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, American Flatbread, Theater X Productions, and the Warren Arts Committee. Numerous other contributors in the community, including the many “Friends of the Fence,” also helped make building the park possible.
The park is open to all from dawn to dusk but asks that dogs be limited to three per person. The small dog area is a place to separate dogs that are timid, unsocialized or otherwise need acclimation to a dog park setting. The park rules state that children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult, that dogs must be supervised at all times, and that no unvaccinated, unneutered or aggressive dogs be brought into the park. Water is not provided, so visitors may prefer to bring their own.
The park will also be a site for dog training classes and a variety of community events. In October, there will be a series of educational events offered to help people and their dogs have the most successful experiences possible at the park. Taught by Janine Manninen of Green Mountain Dog Camp, topics will include How to Introduce Dogs, Dog Park Etiquette, and Simple Training for the Best Dog Park Experience. Check The Valley Reporter or the MRV Dog Park website for details.
Information about the park can be found on its website, www.mrvdogpark.com. On the site, people can view information about the park, upcoming events, sign the guest book, volunteer to help, and make donations to fund the ongoing maintenance and expenses at the park.
To get to the park, drive up School Road in Warren, take a right at the top of the road, pass the tennis courts and skate park, and look for the sign near the solar panels directing people to the park.
For more information contact the MRV Dog Park Committee at
