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May 1, 2008
The Worst Dog Park In The World?
Photo by HeathBiter for LAist
Right where the 134 meets the 5 is an atrocious dilapidated dirt lot known as The Griffith Park Dog Park. Despite being visible from the 134, and located at the intersection of two main freeways, it is near impossible to find or get to.
On a recent beautiful Sunday afternoon, me and my Labradordle (half-Labradoodle, half-Labrador) drove around for 45 minutes trying to find the entrance to this place. When we finally arrived, we were the only ones there. Surprisingly, given the lack of other animals, there was crap everywhere, and the entire place reeked of piss.
How bad was it? Even my dog hated it. She couldn’t even be bothered to give chase when I tried to start a game of fetch with some half-eaten tennis-ball coverings. (I couldn’t find an entire tennis ball.) After about 5 minutes, my dog walked straight up to the exit and looked longingly at our car.
Perhaps someone can shed some light... What the Hell is the story with this stink-hole?
If you hate grass, convenience, and other dogs, then Griffith Park Dog Park is the place for you.
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That dog park just looks sad...
lab and a poodle???
They ran out of other amenities so they decided "oh heck, let's repeat ourselves and state the obvious". Brilliant!
Been there once, never went back. Horrible piece of wasted land. Even the Hermon Dog Park by Highland Park is better, although there's never any dogs there either. At least they have "Yappy Hour".
That's a stylin' Jetta!
Forget this place. Head to Laurel canyon for grass and dogs or Silver Lake dog park for dirt and hipsters!
I don't know if this is in your area but this dog park is the best. Lots of other dogs and very cool people. Smaller dogs have their own area too.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3026+E+Orange+Grove&sll=34.06156,-118.081751&sspn=0.102249,0.159302&ie=UTF8&ll=34.159972,-118.086988&spn=0.006383,0.009956&z=17&layer=c&cbll=34.15847,-118.08676
3026 E Orange Grove Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91107
I went there once and never again. I didn't have such a hard time finding it but damn is the park such a waste of space. Not a single speck of grass.
I saw some other people letting their dog run around off leash outside the park and I thought that was such a better idea as long as your dog was a good boy/girl
The crusted over folding chair lends a nice air of ghost-town dilapidation to the photo. Not such a happy dog-park. I generally go to the one at the reservoir, but have been meaning to check out some others around town. Thanks, everyone for sounding off on other dog park options and, heathbiter, for warning me off of trying this one at Griffith Park.
>Labradordle (half-Labradoodle, half-Labrador)
You mean like Manbearpig? Half man half bearpig.
Is it visible from the 134? Hell, I barely see it when biking by along the L.A. River bikepath, which is in the background of your picture.
It is notoriously difficult to drive to. I only stumbled upon it by accident one day awhile ago when I exited the westbound 134 at Zoo Drive.
If there's any redeeming quality to this pit it's that its reclusive location and size typically leaves it less crowded than more accessible parks like Silver Lake -- which btw has the same or less in the grass department.
Thanks for the tips everybody. I've been to the Pasadena dog park, and it is indeed, awesome. "Yappy Hour" in Highland Park sounds intriguing. I'll have to check that out.
Will - is the Zoo Dr. exit actually off the 134? Or do you have to make like you're getting on the 5 to get to it? 134 West is the way I would be going, and I'm still at a complete loss.
I originally resisted getting a Labradoodle (half Lab - half Poodle), because I thought I would feel silly saying "Labradoodle" every time someone asked me what kind of dog I have. Since her mom was a Labradoodle and her dad was a straight-up Lab, I usually call her a "Labradordle" or a "Labradoodle-dor".
Heath: The Zoo Drive exit off the 134 actually can be found on the weird transition from the 134 to the 134. Yeah, you read that right and yeah it's undertandably confusing.
Here' what I'm talking about via a Gmaps route to get to the park if your coming west on the 134 from Glendale:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1858921
Here' the route if your on the 5 north approaching the 134:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1858938
I like the SL dog park. There is more grass than someone else mentions here, but I'm fine with the dirt, easier to see the poo that doesn't get picked up.