A review of the Warwick Dog Park

May 1, 6:43 AMProvidence Dogs ExaminerJane Porricelli

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Seth (in the middle) meets some new friends

There are five official off-leash dog parks in Rhode Island, and if you haven't visited one yet, what are you waiting for? Surely, your dog has let you know how much more enjoyable it is to run leash-less.

Yes, there are plenty of parks in our little state, but it's "owner beware" when it comes to allowing your dog to run free. Designated dog parks allow our furry friends to run in a safe, enclosed space - and as an added bonus, socialize with some of their own species. (You might even do a little socializing yourself with the other pup parents at the park.)

I will be traveling to each of the five Rhode Island dog parks - with my two dogs, Ryder and Seth, of course - and putting together an insider's guide so you and your dog know what to expect when you pull up to the park near you.

I'll begin here with the Warwick Dog Park, located in Warwick City Park (in the Buttonwoods section of the city), as I brought my pups there this past weekend.

Ryder and Seth had been to this park before, so they started to anticipate the fun in store as soon as we drove through the park's entrance. You really can't miss the dog park once you follow the park's path approximately one mile (and four speed bumps) from the entrance. Just to the right of the road, you will see two large fenced-in areas (one for small dogs, one for large dogs) - and, most likely, a bunch of dogs running in both sections.

And now...

The Good:

• It's nice to have designated areas for different sized dogs. The little guys (smaller breeds and puppies) can run after each other without getting trampled, and the big guys can hang together on their own turf
• Each area has a small, fenced-in holding section where owners can safely unleash their dogs before letting them in to the main gate to play
• There is plenty of room for dogs to play in either fenced-in area, as the entire facility is 33,000 square feet. Some dogs played together, some just frolicked by themselves, and others were able to play catch, all within the same shared space
• The park provides dog waste bags on-site, in case you forget your own
• There are benches for owners to sit on while watching their dogs play
• The dog park is far away from any residential area, and there is a lot of other activity in the park, with ball fields, playgrounds and a skateboarding park, so barking dogs aren't going to annoy any surrounding neighbors
• There are plenty of parking spaces available
• There are fire hydrants. Enough said!

The Could-Be-Better:

• While the small dog area has a little bit of grass, the big dog area is mostly dirt (with a pine needle-filled, tree-lined section to the side), so be prepared for your dog to need a bath, or at least a session with a towel (or two) - especially if it has recently rained (read: mud!)
• Basic owner conscientiousness about picking up dog waste. It seems that some feel that if their dog does his/her business in the far corners of the fenced-in area, there is no need to pick up after the dog. When I went to pick up after Ryder, there were quite a few other "piles" that really should not have been there
• The park is a little off the beaten path. You have to really look for the CITY PARK signs, navitgate through a neighborhood, and then drive quite a ways into the park to get to your destination

The Verdict:

Overall, going to the Warwick Dog Park was a great experience. Ryder and Seth both got to do what they love. For Ryder, that's playing fetch with a ball, and for Seth, that's meeting other dogs and sniffing around a lot. Sure, they were a little dirty afterwards, but they didn't mind; they were tired and happy.

Oh, and Seth also enjoyed the Subway sandwich that he took right out of a girl's hand as she sat on one of the benches and attempted to eat lunch. Luckily, she was a dog lover (not surprisingly, given that she was at the dog park) and laughed it off.

We will definitely be heading back soon.