Bailey Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Bailey Reserve's off-leash area sits on the eastern and northern rectangular sports grounds, right next to the Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre on East Boundary Road. It is a big, open, mostly grassed space, and the two designated grounds give energetic dogs plenty of room to run without sharing turf with the reserve's other users.

The rules. Off-leash is permitted only on the eastern and northern sports grounds. The western oval, the southern part of the reserve and all pathways are on-leash. Within 20 metres of the BBQs, picnic areas, playground and skate park, dogs must be back on lead, and the same applies during organised sport or public events. Dogs need to be under effective voice control at all times, and the reserve is not fully fenced on every side, so keep an eye on dogs near the road.

What's there. A dog water fountain, bins with dog bags, bench seating around the ovals and parking close to the off-leash grounds. Some areas have lighting for evening visits, though not the whole reserve.

Getting there. The reserve is at 200 East Boundary Road, Bentleigh East, with parking available off Gardeners Road and East Boundary Road itself. Bentleigh Station is the nearest train stop but it is a 25 to 30 minute walk, so this one is realistically a car or bus trip. The 767 and 822 buses both stop on East Boundary Road.

Nearby with the dogs. District Brewer in nearby Bentleigh has a dog-friendly courtyard, and Neighbourhood Coffee Co runs a coffee window that's handy for a quick stop with a dog in tow.

Weekday mornings and early afternoons are the quiet window. Weekday evenings from about 4:30pm to 6:30pm and weekend mornings draw the biggest crowds, and the ovals can be booked out for weekend league sport, in which case the northern ground is the better bet for off-leash time.

Sources

• Dog walking and off leash areas - Glen Eira City Council · gleneira.vic.gov.au
• Your guide to dog on and off-leash parks in Glen Eira · gleneira.vic.gov.au
• The District Brewer | Bentleigh Cafe · districtbrewer.com.au

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.