The Best Places in Chicago's River North To Take Your Dog

In case you haven’t noticed, Chicago is an intensely dog-friendly city. Many of the city’s top condo and apartment buildings allow pets, and most new residential towers that have recently been developed or coming through the pipeline even include dog-friendly amenities like a dog-run or dog-washing station somewhere inside the building. But just in case you like to get outside and keep your dog active, here’s a closer look at some of the best places to take the four-legged member of your family in Chicago’s vibrant and lively River North neighborhood.  

A. Montgomery Ward Park
While A. Montgomery Ward Park might not be Chicago’s largest park, it remains one of our favorites. Positioned right alongside the North Branch of the Chicago River, Ward Park encompasses just 3.1 acres, which includes a small dog-friendly area, a playground, and plenty of grass for a hillside picnic with spectacular views of the Chicago cityscape. You’ll find A. Montgomery Ward Park at Erie and Kingsbury Streets, which is walkable from several of the neighborhood's premier condo towers and loft conversions, like the aptly named Montgomery, located just up the street. 

Kingsbury Street
Although this might seem rather broad, North Kingsbury Street is one of our favorite roads to walk along when walking your dog. It’s a smaller street that doesn’t get a super high-volume of traffic, and its close proximity to the river also makes it feel slightly less dense than other parts of the neighborhood as well. Plus, Kingsbury Street is also far enough away from all the lively nightlife, shopping, and dining River North is know for, which is what any dog walker wants, especially during the evening hours. And, as mentioned above, Ward Park is also located at Erie and Kingsbury, which is a great spot for you and the dog to take a rest and enjoy the awesome city scenery the park provides. 

Ohio Place Dog Park
If you look at it on a map, you might be inclined to pass on visiting the Ohio Place Dog Park in River North thanks to a location that is seemingly right next to an on-ramp. But thanks to fairly mature trees, a rather large wall, benches, and plenty of space for your dog to stretch his legs, the Ohio Place Dog Park is a surprisingly pleasant spot to hit whenever you’re out for a walk with Fido. For added convenient, there’s almost always doggy waste bags there, as well as a water fountain for both you and your pet. 

The Chicago Riverwalk
You can’t talk about the best places to bring your dog in River North without mentioning the riverwalk. While the primary stretch of the riverwalk is on the other side of the river in the Loop, there are also some pretty good walkaways to enjoy on the River Northside as well. The development all around Wolf Point has also created some new green areas for residents to enjoy as well, and we especially like the walkway just below Trump Tower and the surrounding area.