JB Flaherty Park

Good location, good park. My 4 legged kids love this place. No costs, fees, and memberships. Just show up, and have fun in either the small dog or big dog lots. We have 3 small and one large, and just use the small lot. I would suggest more people bring and donate toys etc. We are going to start leaving balls etc.

My puppy loves the dog park here. They have two areas– one for little dogs and then an area for big dogs. The big dogs area is really large with 3 picnic tables for us humans. There is a great hill for the dogs to run in. Also there are several water dishes that you can fill up for the dogs and plastic bags to clean up any messes your dogs make.
Everyone we have encountered here have been really nice. Most people will be willing to share water with you if you forget but I always try to bring a jug full. We enjoy getting to meet new dog lovers and having playmates for our pup. If you go a lot then you will start to see the same dogs there.

Flaherty Park is a great place to take part in recreational activities, such as organized sports, pick up a game of tennis, or basketball, take your pups to the dogpark, or take a class at the recreation center. There is also a great walking trail that goes from one area of the park where the baseball fields are, through a wooded area, and to the other side where the rec center is.
I have taken part in softball games, art classes at the rec center, tennis games with friends, and the most popular for us-​taking the pups to the dog park. You do have to be careful though, some «not so smart» parents, like to bring their kids inside the dog area and play. Understand, these parents are not bringing a dog to the park, just their kids, so they run around sometimes terrorizing the dogs which can be a little nerve racking. I have not experienced this a lot at other dog parks so I am not sure if it is because it is close to a playground or what.
Overall, this is a great asset to Wake Forest. Do yourself a favor, and head over and get involved in an activity. There is something for the entire family!

If this dog park didn’t exist, we probably wouldn’t own a dog. We live in a townhome with no yard, and our dog has more energy than most, so living 5 minutes from the Flaherty Dog Park has been a life saver.
The park has 2 fenced in areas, one for small dogs (30 pounds and under) and for the larger dogs. There are clear rules written on the gates, stating simple, common sense rules, like, no food, owner must be present with dog, etc. Each side has a water source, but for the most part, they don’t work too well, and I recommend bringing your own water.
Most of the time, someone has a huge jug and is willing to share with all dogs.
Our dog spends her time in larger area, where she can run up and down the hill chasing other dogs and wrestling with them. The fenced in area is hgue, and the park can accomodate a ton of dogs without getting overcrowded. Almost everyone who goes are great people who love their dogs and respect others and their dogs. Friendly people and friendly, playful dogs makes for a great time for everyone at the park. We probably go 3 – 4 times a week, and it is the best exercise our dog gets, and the best time she has all week!