Boise is top dog: City of Trees ranked the best city in the US for dog parks. Here’s why
Boise dog owners rejoice, because you couldn’t be in a better place in all of America for your four-legged companion.
The City of Trees may not have the largest and most elaborate parks, but when it comes to offering a haven for our furry friends, Boise is top dog.
A new study from Lawnstarter ranked the best cities for dog parks in the United States, and Boise ranked first. The study evaluated the 101 largest cities in America based on three categories: dog parks per 100,000 residents, the number of top-rated dog parks, and the weather conditions.
It’s the second straight year that Boise has been ranked first in the nation.
“I do think that Boise is a very dog-friendly city,” Lenny Alleyne, an employee at Bark N’ Purr in Boise, told the Idaho Statesman. Alleyne owns a 5-year-old emotional support cattle dog called Moon.
“Some of my favorite parts about (Boise) are the dog parks are really fun,” Alleyne continued. “But I also really like that a lot of our places, especially in downtown Boise, are actually dog friendly.”
Data was gathered from BringFido, The Trust for Public Land, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
So, how did Boise end up on top?
Boise: A haven for dogs
Among the three key categories, Boise’s position at the top is primarily attributed to the city’s first-place ranking for parks per 100,000 residents. The City of Trees boasts 7.6 parks per 100,000 people, according to Lawnstarter. The next closest is Portland, with 5.8 parks per 100,000.
Together Treasure Valley Dog Island is one of Boise’s best-known dog parks. It is on 5.4 acres in the southwest corner of Ann Morrison Park, is open year-round, and has a fenced-off “shy dog” area. The park also features two picnic areas and numerous benches. Other dog park options around Boise include the Morris Hill Dog Park and the Fort Boise Dog Park.
Alleyne often takes her dog, Moon, to Together Treasure Valley Dog Island. But the pair also enjoy the walk along the Boise Greenbelt between Quinn’s Pond and Veteran’s Memorial Park.
“I really like Quinn’s pond,” Alleyne said. “They have a lot of trails that are pretty close to nature trails, but they’re like right around the water so there’s always a spot for your dog to get a drink and stuff. And it also connects to veterans park, there’s a pretty pretty big trail that goes through there that I really enjoy.”
Boise also ranked 11th in dog park quality — with Boise dog parks averaging a 4.3 out of 5 rating — and 39th in climate ranking. The climate ranking was determined by averaging the monthly rainfall amount (0.98 inches in Boise) and the average number of very hot and very cold days — the lower the totals for each factor, the better the climate score.
One thing the study didn’t consider, but what means a lot to Alleyne and her dog, is how accessible and accepting downtown businesses are to dogs. Two of their favorite places are Payette Brewing and Rediscovered Bookshop.
“I really enjoy going to Payette brewing, that place is really fun. It’s dog-friendly and they have a pretty big green area,” Alleyne said. “So there’s always lots of space for the dogs to kind of run around and play.”
What other cities made the list?
If you’re looking to head out of Boise for a vacation — or even leave permanently for new pastures — and want a city that’s as good for your dog as it is for you, here are the cities that came just behind Boise.
Each city’s overall score out of 100 is noted:
Boise, Idaho (71.1)
San Francisco, California (68.8)
Portland, Oregon (65.9)
Henderson, Nevada (61.1)
Tampa, Florida (58.4)
Arlington, Virginia (54.4)
Albuquerque, New Mexico (53.1)
New York, New York (51.6)
Las Vegas, Nevada (51.5)
Sacramento, California (51.1)
This story was originally published July 12, 2024 at 11:34 AM.
