The Magnuson Off-Leash Dog Park was created in 1999. It is Seattle’s biggest fenced dog play area with 9 acres of land, and is the only off-leash area inside city limits with water access. Pongo and I have been coming here since 2006 or 2007. What used to be about a twenty-minute drive from my Beacon Hill home is now a forty-five to sixty-minute drive from Bonney Lake. Needless to say, we don't come very often anymore. It is a special treat that we do maybe six times a year.
Pongo has always been highly social and loves to have play time with other dogs. I learned very early on after adopting him the important role of dog parks. Living in an apartment in DC, Pongo often spent ten to twelve hours a day indoors waiting for me to come home from work. I discovered that giving him time off-leash to run, wrestle and play with other dogs wore him out much faster than taking him for a walk or a jog. In addition, the socialization gave him time to be a dog. He would come home happy and spent. It was a regular part of our weekly routine at that time. Now, Pongo has a lot less time to be with other dogs and he misses it.
The weather forecast today was for a dry day and mild temperatures - something I cherish this time of year. Instead of going for a hike, I decided to give Pongo some doggie play time. We left for Seattle shortly after 10 am this morning. From I-5, we took the 45th Avenue exit and drove through the University of Washington campus. Continuing on 45th, we passed Children's Hospital and the road turned into Sand Point Way NE. At NE 74th Street, we turned right into the former naval complex.
We passed the community garden and the children's playground area.
Once inside, I took off Pongo's leash and he headed across the open play area to the walkway that leads to the water. No longer interested in playing ball, probably because of arthritis, Pongo loves to spend his time on the beach playing with doggie friends.
He always finds a golden retriever to play with - his favorite breed, he always singles them out at the dog park. I think he likes blondes...
View to the right of the beach. Kids, as well as dogs, like to play on the uprooted tree.
Pongo refuses to swim, but loves to wade knee-deep into the water.
A view of the shoreline.
View looking back from the beach.
This shows one of the long walkways from the play areas that leads to the shoreline. Pongo sniffs along the fence line where many have passed before him.
This large play area looks toward the parking area. On the other side of the shelter is a smaller, fenced-in area for small dogs.
At the entrance/exit there are a couple water stations where owners can hose off their sand and mud-caked dogs and give them a fresh drink.
When we left, Pongo and I walked over to a food truck parked between the soccer fields and the children's play area. I bought a 20 oz. caramel macchiato and a turkey hot dog with dijon mustard and sauerkraut. I sat down in the grass and Pongo sat next to me, begging. I pinched off bits off hot dog and bun and shared with him. For years, I fed him only commercial dog food and treats. But when I got married, my husband couldn't say no to Pongo's soulful eyes when he had food in his hands - especially meat. Ignoring my protests, my husband would feed him scraps, saying: "I've never had a dog before." Now, the excuse is that Pongo is an old dog and should enjoy life. Even I give in sometimes, but only on special occasions, like when we go for a hike, or are on a long car drive and Pongo is hungry - or today. Even I have become an old softy.
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