Salem opens two-zone dog park for energetic dogs and families

Salem’s newest place for dogs at speed is built to keep rough-and-tumble play from overwhelming smaller or more cautious companions. The new dog park at Geer Community Park opened June 5 with a two-zone layout that city planners say was designed for energetic dogs, timid dogs, and the people bringing them through the gate.

That split matters. A single open run can be a mismatch for hyperenergetic dogs that want full-throttle play, puppies still learning the rules, or smaller dogs that need more controlled introductions. Salem described the park as a thoughtful addition built to meet the needs of both dogs and owners, and the layout includes separate fenced areas, an accessible paved entry, and two small shelters with benches. A reservable picnic shelter nearby gives families a place to settle in before or after a session at the park or skatepark.

The dog park is part of a much larger build-out at 241 Geer Dr NE in east Salem. Geer Community Park already includes baseball fields, soccer fields, walking trails, picnic tables, restrooms, a skatepark, and pump tracks, making it one of the city’s most active neighborhood parks. The first phase of the site dates to 2005, when the focus was on sports fields, restrooms, and trails. The new dog park extends that long-running expansion rather than standing alone as a fenced patch of turf.

Funding comes from Salem’s voter-approved 2022 Safety and Livability Bond, and city planning materials said the Geer Park work marked a big step toward completing the Geer Park Master Plan. Those documents also outlined a broader package that included improvements to two natural grass soccer fields, artificial turf in two baseball infields, and better pedestrian access along Park Avenue NE. The city’s later update added that the nearby skatepark soft opening was planned for mid- to late November 2025, while temporary soccer field needs were being covered at McKay Park, River Road Park, and Wallace Marine Park during the Geer work.

For dog owners, the practical value is immediate: a place where a high-drive dog can run hard, socialization can stay more manageable, and off-leash time does not have to feel improvised. Salem’s newest dog park is not just another amenity at Geer Community Park; it is a clearer answer to how active dogs and their people actually use a public space.