Idaho city named best for dog parks 3 years in a row. What makes it No. 1?
Perk up those ears, Boise pups. Idaho’s state capital is once again leading the pack.
Boise was recently named the best city for dog parks in America for the third year in a row, according to Lawnstarter, a digital marketplace for lawn maintenance.
“Boise, Idaho, sits and stays in first place again this year,” Lawnstarter contributor Sav Maive wrote in a Jan. 12 article.
Here’s why Boise topped the list of America’s best dog park cities in 2026:
Why is Boise the best US city for dog parks?
According to Lawnstarter, Boise was the No. 1 dog park city in the United States in 2026 with an overall score of 60.03 out of 100.
According to Lawnstarter, Boise offers the “best access to dog parks” in the nation with nine parks per 100,000 residents.
“If you’re a dog owner, you know how much your pup thrives when they have space to run, play and socialize,” Lawnstarter communications manager Patricia Davis told The Idaho Statesman via email. “This study highlights which cities are really investing in that through access to well-maintained dog parks”
In addition to having the best access to dog parks nationwide, Boise ranked 13th in the United States in terms of the number of top-rated dog parks, Lawnstarter said.
The city ranked 25th in terms of dog park-related Google searches per 100,000 residents and 26th in terms of average dog park ratings, according to the site.
However, Boise ranked lower on the list when it came to cities with the best climates, landing at No. 43, according to Lawnstarter.
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Boise parks official: City focused on outdoor access
According to the Trust for Public Lands’ database, Boise has consistently been the city with the most access to dog parks since 2019.
With mandatory isolation in effect during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is no surprise that Boise shifted attention to significantly improving outdoor developments.
“Obviously, we learned a lot through the COVID-19 pandemic and our outdoor spaces became even more important,” said Bonnie Shelton, communications and marketing superintendent for Boise Parks and Recreation. “Talking with residents about the experiences that they want in their neighborhood park, and making sure those opportunities are spread across the city as we build and develop new spaces, is a big part of why we’ve been able to keep the top spot.”
Shelton, who is the owner of a 10-year-old black Labrador mix named Luna, also credited Boise’s 10-Minute Walk initiative with maintaining high accessibility to parks in residential areas.
Boise is committed “to ensure every family has access to a park or open space reserve within a 10-minute walk from their home,” said the city said on its website.
“I feel so lucky that I get to work here and also benefit from just the support that our leadership has for our park system here in Boise,” Shelton said. “It’s part of that quality of life that we all enjoy here in Boise.”
Idaho city made Lawnstarter list in 2023, 2024
Lawnstarter named Boise the No. 1 city for dog parks in the United States in 2023 and 2024. However, the site did not publish a similar study in 2025.
“Sometimes our data team has to prioritize certain tasks to ensure accuracy, and they must’ve been working on something else at the time,” Davis told The Statesman.
“(Boise) staying in first place since 2023 shows consistent commitment and investment from the city to providing excellent dog-friendly amenities, like parks and access to rentals, making it a standout location for dog ownership,” she added.
How many dog parks does Boise have?
Coming out on top is no puppy trick. Time to celebrate with a tail waggin’ victory lap in your favorite park.
One of the main reasons Boise scores high with dog lovers is the wide range of parks and recreation facilities accessible to Boise residents.
“We have more than 100 developed parks here in Boise,” Shelton said. “There are just lots of opportunities for people with pets like me to take them outside and make sure they’re getting to have fun and burn off all that energy too.”
Where can I take my dogs off-leash locally?
Durig off-leash season, pet owners can set pups loose at a few Boise outdoor recreational facilities.
Through Feb. 28, dogs can stretch their paws at Ann Morrison Park, Optimist Youth Sports Complex or Simplot Sports Complex in Boise.
At Ann Morrison Park, dogs and their owners can check out the many offerings at Together Treasure Valley Dog Island dog park, year round.
“We have Dog Island, where you can take your pet,” Shelton said. “There’s swimming opportunities. There’s off leash. There’s a shy dog area that’s fenced if your dog doesn’t want to be out with all the other animals.”
“There’s a lot of different opportunities to get outside across the city,” she said, “and that also extends to our dog parks and off-leash areas.”
Where are the top 10 cities for dog parks?
According to Lawnstarter, these were the top 10 cities for dog park fans in the United States in 2026:
- 1. Boise
- 2. Portland, Oregon
- 3. San Francisco
- 4. Las Vegas
- 5. Henderson, Nevada
- 6. Colorado Springs, Colorado
- 7. Tampa, Florida
- 8. Albuquerque, New Mexico
- 9. Miami
- 10: Arlington, Virginia
How did Lawnstarter rank best cities for dog parks?
In order to determine the best dog park cities in the United States, Lawnstarter compared data from four categories:
- Access: Number of dog parks per 100,000 residents, number of private dog parks for rent on Sniffspot
- Quality: Number of top-rated dog parks on BringFido, average consumer ratings for dog parks and average number of reviews per dog park
- Interest: Number of dog park-related Google searches per 100,000 residents
- Climate: Average monthly inches of precipitation, average monthly percentage of sunshine, average number of very cold days and average number of very hot days.
Data came from the sources including BringFido, Sniffspot, Trust for Public Lands and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration.
Lawnstarter then used this data to rank 100 of America’s largest cities on a 100-point system.