Judith Scott Memorial Park Dog Off Leash Area

Judith Scott Memorial Park is an unfenced off-leash reserve on Whittier Street in Kingsbury, tucked between the street and the Merri Creek walking trail. Open around the clock, it suits owners after a quiet, grassy stretch rather than a big fenced dog park, and the creek trail next door makes it easy to bolt on an on-lead leg to the walk.

The dog setup

The off-leash zone is the open grassy section south of the playground. Dogs must be on-lead in the playground area and anywhere outside that zone, kept at least 10 metres from the playground and shared paths, and under voice control at all times. Aggressive, unvaccinated or on-heat dogs are not permitted, and picking up is expected. On site there is a water tap with a bowl, waste bins, an unshaded picnic table and a wheelchair-accessible entrance; an outdoor gym sits next to the off-leash area.

Max: unfenced and next to a creek trail means check for other dogs and cyclists before you let the lead go.

Worth knowing

The unfenced boundary runs to both a creek and residential streets, so solid recall is the entry price here. There is little shade over the picnic table, so summer visits are best early. The merri Creek corridor also brings wildlife through, which is exactly the sort of thing a chaser will find first.

Getting there and parking

The park is on Whittier Street, reached via Dunne Street, with street parking usually available. The Route 86 tram runs along nearby Plenty Road and local buses service the surrounding streets.

While you're out there

C W Kirkwood Reserve is the suburb's other off-leash option, and Edwardes Lake Park in Reservoir is the big open-space alternative a short drive north. For coffee, Little Henri in Thornbury and All Heart Cafe in Reservoir both welcome dogs.

When to go

Weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons tend to draw the most dogs; early mornings and Tuesday afternoons are quieter. Pair the off-leash loop with an on-lead Merri Creek trail walk for a proper outing.