A.G. Davis Park Dog Off Leash Area

A.G. Davis Park on Wood Street is a working neighbourhood park in Preston: an unfenced off-leash oval with a playground, outdoor gym and the Merri Creek trail within easy reach. The setup balances dog space with everything else a park does, so it suits a proper off-leash run followed by a longer leashed walk along the creek.

The dog setup

The off-leash zone sits south of the main playground, and it is open grass rather than an enclosure, so this is a recall park, not a fence park. Darebin's standard rules apply: dogs must be on-lead until inside the designated zone, stay on-lead within 10 metres of the playground, barbecues and shared cycling paths, and remain under effective voice control off-lead. Carry a leash at all times and pick up after your dog. Dogs that are aggressive, unvaccinated or on heat are not permitted in off-leash areas.

Facilities are better than the park's size suggests: a water tap with a dog bowl near the oval, picnic tables (mostly unshaded, so bring a hat in summer), public toilets, an outdoor gym and connecting walking paths.

Max: unfenced oval next to a playground means the 10 metre buffer does the work your fence would. Leash up before you cross the open ground toward the gate side.

Worth knowing

Because the oval is shared space, expect kids' sport and school groups at times; the 10 metre path buffers matter most when cyclists cut through. Locals use this as a quick leg-stretch stop rather than a destination, so it rarely feels crowded, and the mix of dog owners skews regulars who know the drill. If your dog needs a fully fenced run instead, this is the wrong tool, but for a social dog with solid recall it is an easy win close to the creek.

Getting there and parking

Parking is on-street along Wood Street and the surrounding residential streets, so allow a short walk at busy times. Preston station and the Mernda line are close enough to make a train-and-walk trip workable, and the park links directly into the local path network toward Merri Creek.

While you're out there

Pair a run here with a walk along the Merri Creek trail, or hop between the other Darebin off-leash ovals: Adams Reserve for a quiet pocket park or A.H. Capp Reserve for a bigger sports oval nearby. For coffee after, Tyler's Milkbar and Red Bean Coffee Roaster on Plenty Road both welcome dogs in their outdoor areas.

More options across the city are listed on the Victoria dog parks page, and local tips live on the Preston destination guide.