Officer District Park Fenced Dog Park

Officer District Park's fenced dog park is the dedicated off-leash area inside Cardinia Shire's new 10-hectare regional park on Lansell Avenue, opened in December 2024. On paper it ticks every box - fenced, purpose-built, part of a flagship park with playgrounds, a parkour zone and a 1km loop track.

In practice, it disappointed us. The surface is mostly mulch rather than grass, which is a choking hazard for young dogs and rough on fetch-loving breeds. There is very little grass inside the fence and not much room for a proper game of fetch - our dogs wanted to leave almost as soon as they arrived.

Max: one of the worst in the local area. Full of mulch, so a choking hazard for young dogs. Very little grass, no room to fetch. The dogs wanted to leave immediately.

Parking is the other problem. The park's own carpark serves the playground side well, but street parking near the dog area sits on a narrow, still-developing street that feels unsafe with a dog on the lead and cars passing close.

Worth knowing

The wider park is genuinely good - playground, fitness loop, lookout over Western Port - so it can still work as a family outing where one person takes the kids and another walks the dog on-lead through the reserve. But as a destination dog park, we rate it below the alternatives nearby.

The better option is Toomuc Creek Linear Reserve Dog Off Leash Area in Pakenham, a short drive away and much better for dogs: real grass, room to fetch, safer parking. Browse dog-friendly Officer for the rest of the area.