Brentwood Park Dog Off Leash Area

Brentwood Park is an unfenced open-grass reserve in residential Croydon, next to the Brentwood Park Kindergarten. It is a straightforward neighbourhood off-leash spot rather than a destination park: an elevated grassy run, a lower depression with soccer goals and a woodland edge, all within a short drive of Croydon's main streets.

The dog setup

Maroondah City Council allows dogs off-leash in the designated grassy areas provided they stay under effective voice and hand control. The council-wide rules apply: back on lead within 15 metres of the playground, barbecues and picnic facilities, and on-lead on the surrounding shared paths. Greyhounds must stay leashed in public spaces under the Domestic Animals Act, and you are expected to carry bags and use the bins provided. There is no fence around the off-leash area, so recall matters more here than at an enclosed park.

A water tap with a bowl sits in the north-west corner of the reserve and another near the playground, so you can top up on site. The kindergarten beside the park is separately fenced off. Parking is on-site and reached via the residential streets around Mandowie Crescent; Croydon Station on the Lilydale line is the nearest train, with a walk or short bus ride to finish the trip.

Max: the lower end with the soccer goals turns to mud after rain. Great fun for a water-loving dog, just bring a towel for the car.

Worth knowing

Weekday mid-morning to early afternoon is the quiet stretch; early mornings, late afternoons and weekend mornings are busier, and weekend parking gets tight. The mix of open grass and a woodland edge gives you options: a fetch session on the rise, or a leashed sniff along the treeline afterwards. Good for dogs with reliable recall that want a local run without a trip across town.

Close by with the dogs

If you want a fully fenced session instead, Eastfield Fenced Dog Park is the obvious alternative, while Charles Allen Reserve and Ainslie Park give you more unfenced grass to rotate through. For coffee afterwards, Blackwork on Hewish Road is a local fixture with outdoor seating that suits dog owners.

More runs are listed on the VIC dog parks guide and the Croydon destination page.