Q: Give me the whole low-down on the park: where, when, how, etc.!

A:  To use the off-leash area, you need to either purchase a daily pass at the park or obtain a $40/year/household user permit from Howard County, the money from which goes into the fund used to help maintain the dog park area. 

To get an annual permit, you must provide a copy of your dog license and a current rabies certificate for each dog and a completed registration form at either the Department of Recreation & Parks at 7120 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia OR the Office of Licenses & Permits in the George Howard Building on Courthouse Drive in Ellicott City. If you need to purchase a Howard County dog license, you may do so at either of these offices also.

note: The George Howard Building is undergoing renovations and the Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Permits has relocated temporarily. See www.howardcountymd.gov for new location.

The registration form can be obtained in person at either of the above locations. If you wish to complete the form ahead of time, call Recreation & Parks at 410-313-7275 to ask that a form be mailed to you or you may download and print the form here.

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        Directions to the dog park, as well as much useful information, are available here on our website.

Q: Where is the dog park?

A:  The dog park is located at Worthington Park. It is on the newly developed Hillsborough Rd. Hillsborough Rd is located off New Cut Rd, on the right, and is 0.7 miles from the intersection of Rt. 103 and New Cut Rd (in Eastern Howard County, Ellicott City area).

New Cut Rd lies between Long Gate Pkwy and Rt 104, on the east side of Rt 103. You can access Rt 103 from Rt 29 (same as St. John's Lane) or from Rt 100; exits Rt 104 or Long Gate Pkwy.

Directions and a map are available here.

Q: What are the rules for the dog park? Can I bring my child? How many dogs can I bring at one time? Can I use treats to train my dog while in the park?

A: The complete rules are posted at the park an here. However, it is important that a couple rules be highlighted, as they are the most frequently broken or misunderstood:

Children under the age of 12 are NOT permitted in the park at any time. This is for the safety of the children. Many dogs don’t do well with children, and children can be easily knocked over or unintentionally injured by overzealous animals. Some dogs get very excited at the park, and many run around in a large group, often with little regard for the people standing around. Many children also don’t understand that some dogs don’t feel comfortable around them, and the kids attempt to chase or play with an unwilling animal, resulting in an unfortunate incident such as a bite.

Only 2 dogs per handler will be allowed at any time. This is in order to maintain the highest level of control and safety for all visitors. If you have more than 2 dogs at home, please remember that you can always bring a friend or partner with you so you can bring all your dogs!

Food of any kind is also strictly forbidden in the park. Many dogs are food-aggressive and fights can easily break out when such a desirable item is introduced into a highly charged environment such as a dog park. Please note than this includes people food as well as dog food and treats. However, we highly recommend you bring water for your dog, especially on hot summer days. Please only use plastic (not glass) bottles and remember to bring a bowl. Dogs are easily overheated and dehydrated in warm weather or during vigorous play. Hopefully soon we will have permanent water facilities at the park for both human and canine visitors, but this won’t be installed at opening.

Q: Is drinking water available at the park?

A: Water is available at the park. It is turned off during the winter months. The park does not provide drinking bowls, so please bring your own non-breakable bowl. To avoid spreading common ailments between dogs try to not allow other dogs to drink from your dogs bowl. This is for your dogs protection as well as others.

Q: Can I bring toys to the park?

A: Tennis balls and the like are acceptable, but squeaky toys often cause some tension. Generally, please use your discretion and remove your toy if it looks to be causing tension between the dogs. Do not bring rawhide or any other food-like toy to the park.

Q: Does the park have a small dog area?

A: Yes, there is a separate fenced area with its own entrance gate for use by dogs who aren't compatible with rough play styles of larger dogs — this may include puppies, timid dogs, and elderly dogs. Please note: the small dog area is optional for dog owners. Small dogs are not required to use this area.

Q: Can I make a donation and where do I send it?

A: Absolutely! HoCoDOG is an organization whose purpose is to promote the Off-Leash Area at Worthington Park, and any donations received will be used to benefit the park. You may make a donation directly to HoCoDOG, but these donations are not tax-deductible. For more information, please email info@hocodog.org. If you would rather make a tax-deductible donation, please send your check to: Howard County Director of Finance, Department of Recreation and Parks, 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21045. Be sure to mark your checks for "Dog Park".

Q: Do I have to be a resident of or property owner in Howard County to use the park?

A: No. But you do have to provide a copy of a valid license and rabies vaccination from your county of residence in order to get a permit for the park. Daily permit users will also have to have proof of rabies and license in their possession while they are at the park.