In First Phase of Multimillion-Dollar Overhaul, Hermann Park Conservancy Unleashes New Dog Park

SO FETCH! HOUSTON officially has a new dog park, located within one of the city's most beloved green spaces. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Hermann Park Conservancy unleashed the new McWilliams Dog Park along Brays Bayou, and pet-lovers and their pups are putting it to good use thanks to this beautiful weather.

The two-acre off-leash area is the first completed project named in the Conservancy's $54 million Play Your Park campaign, which is set to conclude next year with the addition of a fantastic playground, among other amenities. "With tails wagging and hearts brimming with excitement, we are so happy to declare the McWilliams Dog Park officially open," said Doreen Stoller, president of Hermann Park Conservancy, in a statement. "From that very first email requesting a dog park during our master planning process, to this highly anticipated moment, the journey has been a community-driven endeavor. ... [We] invite Park visitors and their furry friends to romp, play, and forge new friendships at the McWilliams Dog Park for many years to come."

Local landscape-architecture firm Lauren Griffith Associates, which was also responsible for renovating the park's intricate trail system in 2011, designed the McWilliams Dog Park. It includes separate areas for small and large breeds, plus plenty of natural shade and a ginormous interactive water feature — all on an elevated site, which will hopefully remain protected from flooding.

The dog park is open to the public 6am-11pm, Tuesdays through Sundays; it will be closed on Mondays for weekly maintenance.

Dogs enjoyed the McWilliams Dog Park's ribbon-cutting ceremony