Pasco County names a dog park at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex. This guide covers what the county's own pages say about its hours, its layout and the rules that apply to dogs in county parks. The county pages used here describe this one dog park in Land O' Lakes, so it is the one covered. For more ideas on getting out around town, see the things to do page.
The short version
- The dog park is open 7 days a week, dawn to dusk.
- A partition separates the smaller and larger dogs.
- County park rules keep dogs out of buildings, playgrounds, athletic fields, basketball courts, skate parks, shelters and pavilions, among other areas.
- The Recreation Complex itself has its own hours: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Hours
According to the county's park rules, the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex dog park is open 7 days a week, dawn to dusk. Because the schedule follows daylight, the actual closing time shifts through the year. The county does not give a clock time for the dog park, so this guide does not either.
The county's park directory gives separate hours for the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex itself: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Monday through Friday. That is the complex's schedule, and it is a different thing from the dog park's dawn-to-dusk schedule. The directory does not say the two are the same, so it is a good idea to treat them separately. The details are on the county's park directory.
In practice, this means the dog park's listed schedule covers all 7 days of the week, while the complex's directory hours name Monday through Friday. A visitor planning a trip should read both entries and, when in doubt, check with the county before heading out.
Small dogs and large dogs
The dog park has a partition to separate the smaller and larger dogs. The county's wording is about size, so owners can choose the area that matches their dog. Using the partition as intended and keeping each dog in the correct area is part of making the space work for everyone who visits.
Where dogs are not allowed
The dog park is a designated space for dogs. Elsewhere in a county park, the rules limit where dogs can go. Under the county's park rules, dogs must not enter:
- Buildings
- Playgrounds or play areas
- Athletic fields and dugouts
- Basketball courts
- Skate parks
- Shelters and pavilions
The county's wording says "among other areas," so the list continues beyond these examples. The full rules are on the county's parks rules and regulations page, and they are worth reading before a first visit.
Planning a visit
A few simple steps can help a trip go smoothly:
- Check the daylight. The dog park runs from dawn to dusk, so plan around sunrise and sunset rather than a fixed clock time.
- Pick the right area. Use the part of the park that fits the size of the dog, with the partition keeping smaller and larger dogs apart.
- Mind the route. Getting to the dog park should not take a dog through a playground, an athletic field, a basketball court or a pavilion, since dogs are not allowed in those places.
- Read the full county rules, since the list of restricted areas goes beyond the examples above.
- Keep the complex's separate hours in mind if the plan involves anything else at the Recreation Complex.
What this guide does not cover
The county pages used for this guide do not name other dog parks in Land O' Lakes, and they do not describe details such as surface type, water access, lighting or parking. Anyone who needs those details should check the county's pages directly or contact the county before visiting. If the county changes the hours or rules, its own pages will be the place where the update appears.
Who to contact
- For the dog park's hours and the rules for dogs in county parks, see Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources and its rules and regulations page.
- For the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex hours, see the county's park directory.
Sources
Compiled from the official sources below.