Park District Enforcing Leash Law

Dog owners beware. The park police will be giving out tickets to those dog owners who fail to comply with the city's leash law in Naperville parks.

Larger numbers of dogs and owners are out in Naperville parks already this year, according to officials at the park district, and while dogs are allowed on trails and in parks, they must be kept on a leash.

“We want to remind pet owners that our on-leash rule applies to pets in all of our parks, and that this rule is in place for the comfort and safety of all who are enjoying the parks,” Naperville Park District Police Chief Carl Schnibben said in a news release. 

Park police will be out reminding pet owners of the city ordinance requiring dogs be kept on a leash. Those who fail to comply may be given a ticket that has a standard fine of $75, according to the park district. 

Dogs are required to be on leashes as prevention against bites, interfering with pedestrians or bicyclists, along with protecting dogs from other animals, the park district said. 

The Forest Preserve of DuPage County operates two off-leash dog areas within Naperville: one at Springbrook Prairie, located on the north side of 83rd Street, just west of Book Road, and another at Greene Valley Forest Preserve, located on the east side of Greene Road, south of Hobson Road and north of 75th Street. For more information about permits and daily passes, visit www.dupageforest.com under Recreation/Activities and Facilities/ Off Leash Dog Areas.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County maintains a dog park at Whalon Lake Preserve, just east of DuPage River Park on Royce Road. For more information, visit www.reconnectwithnature.org under Preserves and Trails/Whalon Lake.