Nelson Park

I love Nelson Park, and have been coming here with my dog for years. Unfortunately, the dynamic of this park has recently changed.
My medium sized dog has been attacked by two different Pit Bulls twice in the last three weeks, and I have witnessed a number of Pit Bull attacks that my dog (thankfully) was not involved in.
This is after 3 ½ years of coming to this park without incident.
Owners — we understand you love your Pit Bulls, and you believe they would never harm another dog, but this breed is unpredictable and extremely strong. One «bite and hold» from your Pit Bull, and I lose my best friend forever. I now have no choice but to leash-​and-​leave as soon as one of these dogs steps into the park.
Other owners, whether you believe it is right or wrong to be wary of this particular breed, I recommend caution. I also did not believe in discrimination against the breed, until they almost killed my dog.

Live next door to the park. A great place for dogs, layback and relax watch the people go by.

So many puppies! This is a nice place to go for a scenic sit down or to toss around a frisbee. There is a Saturday morning Farmers Market in the summer months, and a great off leash dog park year round. It can be a bit sketchy at night time, but who goes to the park at night without sketchy intentions?! If you’re walking down from Robson to Davie, take a few minutes to walk along the path and enjoy the community.

a great little oasis in the center of town. More of a neighborhood park than a destination park, but nevertheless a nice little spot.

June through August it is an idyllic oasis in a concrete jungle, replete with frolicking dogs, laughing children, lovestruck couples gazing adoringly into each other’s eyes, a serviceable Farmer’s Market, and the odd pick-​up game of Ultimate or Football.
The remaining 9 months of the year it is an abhorrent swampy shithole, half submerged under the eternal, ceaseless rain that plagues this goddamn city. Avoid at all costs.

Should be amazing for dogs, for sure. But it’s kinda ‘meh’ for… Well… Non-​dogs.
Didn’t find any cool stuff to do with my daughter. If you’re going with a family, I’d definitely suggest Emery Barnes park instead, by far.

Great for bringing the dog (s) during the day, but see what, or shall I say who, lurks here after dark…
I know you’re tempted. :D

I was just strolling along downtown headed home from an interview when I came across Nelson park. It isn’t a bad looking park. There are a lot of dogs, which I found out after reading a couple of reviews on here, is not uncommon. Another positive aspect of Nelson Park is that there is a lot of seating throughout the park area. I can see sitting down here to people and pet watch…
And as always, Have Fun!!!

We brought our golden retriever puppy (6 months) and were pleasantly surprised by the size of the park and the trees. Our puppy is big for her age and was happily greeted by several large dogs when we entered the park. Everything seemed great until it became obvious that some owners in the park do not pay attention at all to what their dogs are doing and instead turn their backs and have long conversations with other owners. While I often enjoy chatting with other dog parents, I am always aware of what my dog is doing, who she is playing with, and immediately pick up any «gifts» she deposits.
Particularly bad was a basset hound who continuously tried to mount my dog and pinned her to the ground several times with his mouth around her neck, as well as grabbed her legs with his teeth and yanked her down then pulled her around. I’m not one of those people who panic when my dog plays rough — I think it’s good for her to experience all types of play and she handles them in stride. However this wasn’t play and she kept trying to get away from the basset hound who essentially stalked her for the 25 minutes we were there. The owner was oblivious for the most part to his dog’s behaviour, pulling him off only once, and I was informed by another person that this dog had done this several times to other dogs at the park with the same owner reaction. We left the park much earlier than originally planned because it was clear our girl wasn’t having fun. We normally go to the park at Richards and Davie and she runs and plays non-​stop — not the case at Nelson.
Pros: size, trees, location.
Cons: aggressive dogs/​oblivious owners, dogs get filthy in the dirt, no water.

Calling all dog owners (yep, that’s you)! You *and* your little pup are welcome in these here parts, BUT you both must abide by the rules. This means picking up *all* leftover bits that are proof of your existence here. It’s still pretty nice, despite this annoying fact.
Though I’ve seen more than just junkies and dog-​owners (or junkies who are also dog-​owners) hang out here on a sunny day, I mainly use Nelson Park as a shortcut. And really, where else are the downtown office types supposed to catch some summer rays?
An awesome park for pups to run free, but…
… aww man, that wasn’t mud?

Woof Woof! My go to dog park even though I live in South Granville!
Winston always knows when we are going there. I can park blocks away and when he jumps out of the back of the car he pulls me like one of Santa’s reindeer pulls the sleigh!
It is a great park overall. The fence and double gate makes me feel safe for my dog. The benches are great for the owners. And it is pretty clean! Everyone seems to respect picking up after their dog poops in the yard.
My only complaint is the lame ass dog owners who have aggressive dogs and do nothing to restrain them. I realize dogs get excited but today there were two dogs that were obviously in need of restraining. They were biting and humping and growling at my dog. I am not a pussy dog owner but these dogs needed some discipline. Better yet the OWNERS needed discipline. After 15 minutes we left… no other choice! Next time I bring my dog spray and the owners get it in the eyes!
Common people this is a great dog park so please be a responsible owner and help keep it a great park!
Off my soap box now — thank you!

My main reason for enjoying Nelson Park is the lovely shortcut it provides me walking to and from the West End. Every time I have to walk somewhere with the husband I always say «let’s cut through Nelson Park!»
Besides my super lazy reasoning, it’s also a lovely little park with lots of benches to sit down on and people watch.
Also a nice little place for dog owners to let their pooches go off-​leash.

Like many who work downtown, when I get the chance to escape the confines of my office I am almost always seeking some form of outdoor relaxation. This could include a nice stroll down a quiet street, or perhaps sitting on a bench watching people go by, or… how about sitting in the park basking in the late summer’s sun.
That is precisely why I love Nelson Park. It’s a little piece of nature in the heart of the city and it’s close enough to my work that I can relax on my lunch there.
The dog area is nestled to one end so if you just want to sit and relax you don’t have to listen to dogs barking and the children’s playground is far enough away that you can sit on a bench and still enjoy peace and quiet while the children play. All in all I’m a fan. I never have a problem finding a bench to sit on or a spot of grass if I want to stretch out.
Good times at the park.

It’s a dog’s life. The park is small, compared to the other off-​leash areas I have been to, however it’s pretty central, which is nice. I do wish that it was grassy, so the dogs could actually run in the grass, but knowing how many dogs actually go here, the grass would probably get ground down into mud pretty quick.
This is a good spot to dog watch if you’re a dog lover, since there are many different breeds that frequent this area, and there’s a few benches to sit on and relax. It’s also good for the dogs to have you watching them, since I have noticed a few times the proud parents of pooches too busy gabbing with eachother to notice that their precious pup has pooped. It’s bad enough that the two garbage bins outside the entrance reek of shit, but now some poor person might step in it too. I’m all for making friends at the dog park, but I don’t think letting your dog’s shit go un-​scooped is a good way to make them.
I like Nelson Park, and I do take my dog there, I just wish it was bigger so playing fetch wouldn’t be such a pain in the ass. Everytime I throw the damn ball it bounces out of the gates.

Great park for dogs! And I think the only one in the area. There is a green area where dogs can run and ‘socialize’ and a small fenced area too. I don’t think dogs demand anything else but that:)

It’s nice to have the green space but, honestly, I don’t hang out in this park at all. The off-​leash area for dogs is great but don’t own a dog.
Kudos for re-​landscaping the place to get rid of the crack addicts but I’m starting to notice the benches in this park are being taken over by the rubbies. So, how long is the honeymoon going to last?
It just seems those of us who live in the West End much prefer English Bay and Sunset Beach areas.

I think I should write my review based on 2 factors to give a balanced opinion.
1) The Facility — It is a big fenced-​in off-​leash park in the middle of the West End within walking distance for most West End and Coal Harbour residents. For the most part, it is covered with gravel which is great because it drains and does not create messes. There is big patch of bare sandy spot which cause dust clouds when dogs roll over them and it turns into muddy puddles when it rains.
2) People — For the most part, I like the dog owners who share the park. However, there are a significant number of them (through observation over the past 6 months) who do not respect the residents around the park, other dog park visitors nor have any common sense.
Many of the dog owners go there, let their dogs loose, talk to their friends, smoke cigarettes and don’t pay much attention to their dogs. As such, barking went uncontrolled (causing nuisance to neighbours), defecation was not cleaned up (non-​courtesy acts to other park visitors), unwelcomed canine behaviours was not discouraged (potential bodily harm and serious conflicts).
I used to take my dog there in mid morning (around 9 – 10 am) and usually noticed the same visitors. My last time I went there during this hour was when another dog held my dog at his neck. Although the other dog was not biting down but you could tell that it was not a friendly act and my dog was making Unilocaling noises. I tried to separate them but the owner of the other dog did nothing and continued yapping with her friends there. I started taking pictures with my phone as evidence and only then she mumbled «if you can’t keep your dog away you shouldn’t take your dog to a dog park».
I have not been back to the park since at the same hours but I am considering going back just to get the tag number of that dog if I see it again with its owner and send the info including the pictures I took to the City for further actions.
I now visit the park either Sunday around 4pm or weekday afternoon around 5−6pm. Awesome and responsible dog owners there.

Here’s how I’d actually break down the Nelson Park off-​leash:
Park Facilities? 5 Stars.
Dog Owners? 2 Stars.
We’ve actually stopped going to Nelson Park after not one but two aggressive dog incidents. The first time my 14lb Boston Terrier was chased down and pinned screaming against the fence by a completely out of control, aggressive boxer/​pit bull cross and the second time I was snarled at and nearly bitten by a Jack Russell. These are just the two incidents that have happened to me – I’ve witnessed several more here and heard of a couple more attacks that occurred in this park that were quite serious.
Please note that I do not blame these dogs, it’s the owners who really need to learn how to interact in the dog park. Aggressive or out of control dogs should NOT be allowed to run free, off-​leash area or not. Too many times I’ve watched people roll up with their completely insane, completely untrained and disobedient dogs, unclip the leash and either bury themselves in a book or in conversation with other dog owners, completely oblivious to the dog they are supposed to be supervising. Just because your dog is behind a fence does NOT mean you can just turn your brain off. When I have my dog off her leash I am that much more aware of where she is, what she’s up to and who she might be bothering. She’s sweet and friendly but in the dog world things can go south pretty quickly. If I hadn’t rescued her twice already she’d likely be dead by now.
If you’re going to use this park I’d recommend a couple of things:
1. Walk your dog first and let them burn off some energy and excitement before they get to the gate. Mellower dogs make for greater dog park harmony in general.
2. Before you go in or release your dog make sure you observe the action for a minute or so. The park is large so it can be difficult to see what’s going on, so take your time and get a feel for things first. If you notice any rough play, dogs that seem unsupervised or notice excessive barking it’s probably a good idea to just pass.
3. Make sure your dog is reasonably socialized and pay attention to it the entire time you’re there. It’s great to engage in friendly chat with other owners and to throw the ball around for all the dogs but just stay vigilant and on top of where your guy is at all times.
4. Don’t bring small children into a dog park! I’ve watched little kids get knocked down by a running pack playing chase and it’s not good. Leave the babies and toddlers at home!
As a side note:
The best dog park in downtown by far is the small dog off-​leash area next to the tennis courts (by The Fish House) in Stanley Park. The park is meant for small dogs (under 25lbs) but I have occasionally seen larger dogs that are older or mellower pass without any incident. If you have a little one this park is good because not only are there no huge dogs but it’s actually only about the size of tennis court itself, so it’s easier to keep track of your teeny dog. My dog always seems pretty happy and relaxed when we’re here, and she’s even got a little group of friends we see regularly.
The only warning I’d give about the Stanley Park off-​leash is watch out for «The 3 O’Clock Ladies» :) They are a group of elderly women who gather with their little dogs here nearly every day at about 3pm – and they do actually refer to themselves as «The 3 O’Clock Ladies». They are mostly nice and sweet but they *very* strictly abide by the rules and expect you (and your dog!) to as well. Believe me, they’ll make no bones about asking you to leave if they feel that you aren’t controlling your dog or if it is in any way being disruptive :)

My little brother went to school in at the annex in this park and it looked so different then — if only he could be little again. Lined by a row of heritage homes and cornering Thurlow and Nelson streets in a big block, Nelson Park is the coolest dog and people park around. I really like the community garden that people tend to on Saturday mornings and there is a real sense of community of all the families that get together and picnic or let their kids play here. The playground is state-​of-​the-​art and the greenery is beautiful. The best is from April-​October when the Farmers’ Market displays all the goodies that the area offers.

The best dog park in town. It’s a beautiful park, and it includes a fenced dog area. Perfect my crazy dogs, who don’t know better than to run into the street! The dog park usually has about 3 – 7 dogs in it. I’ve had a very good experience with the dogs here– big and little. It’s a big enough area to play fetch or frisbee– just beware the other dogs might want to join in.
In addition there is a really fun looking playground. A wee big small, but great for the under 10 crowd.