Residents looking for a fenced place to let a dog run have two Orange County dog parks to know about. One is Summerport Park, which has a Windermere address. The other is West Orange Park, which is listed with a Winter Garden address. This guide covers where each one is, the hours posted for Summerport, and the rules the county sets for its dog parks. More outdoor ideas are on the site's things to do page.
Summerport Park
Orange County Parks and Recreation lists the Summerport Park dog park at 14491 Bridgewater Crossings Blvd., Windermere, FL 34786. It is the dog park with a Windermere mailing address on the county's dog parks page.
Summerport hours
The county's page for Summerport Neighborhood Park gives these hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in winter, Sunday through Saturday. In other words, the park is open every day of the week, and the closing time is earlier in winter than in summer.
The county page for the park does not say on which dates summer turns to winter, so check the Summerport park page before heading out near a seasonal change. Those hours are posted for the neighborhood park, and the facts reviewed for this guide do not give separate hours for the dog area, so treat them as the park's hours.
West Orange Park
The county lists the West Orange Park dog park at 12400 Marshall Farms Rd., Winter Garden, FL 34787. It appears on the same county dog parks page as Summerport.
The information reviewed for this guide does not include hours for West Orange Park, so this guide does not list any. Check with the county before a visit.
Rules at county dog parks
Orange County sets the same rules for its dog parks, and they apply at both locations above. The county's page says the following.
- Dog owners must be in the fenced dog park at all times, within view and voice command range of their dogs.
- Dog owners must have possession of a leash at all times.
- Dog owners are expected to clean up dog feces.
- No food of any kind is allowed within the dog park.
- All dogs must have and display current licenses and tags.
What the rules mean in practice
The supervision rule is the one that shapes a visit most. An owner needs to be inside the fence, close enough to see the dog and to be heard by it. Stepping out to the parking area or standing outside the fence while the dog plays does not meet that standard.
The leash rule is about possession. The county says owners must have a leash on hand at all times, so bring one even if the dog will be off leash inside the fenced area.
The food rule covers food of any kind. That wording is broad, so the safest approach is to leave snacks, including anything meant for people, outside the dog park.
The license rule asks that dogs both have and display current licenses and tags. A dog with a tag in a pocket or at home does not satisfy it. The tag should be visible on the dog.
A simple checklist before going
- Confirm the park's hours on the county page, especially if the season may be changing.
- Bring a leash, even if the dog will run free inside the fence.
- Make sure the dog is wearing current license and tags.
- Leave food outside the dog park.
- Plan to stay inside the fenced area with the dog and keep it in view.
Which park fits a visit
Summerport is the one with a Windermere address and published park hours, which makes it the easier of the two to plan around. West Orange Park is listed in Winter Garden and is worth considering as a second option. No distances or drive times are given in the county's information, so this guide does not compare them.
Who to contact
- Orange County Parks and Recreation maintains the dog parks page with the addresses and rules above.
- The county's Summerport park page lists the park hours.
Sources
Compiled from the official sources below.