T.W. Blake Park Dog Off Leash Area

T.W. Blake Park is a big grassy sports oval behind the Northland precinct in Preston that doubles as a Darebin off-lead area outside organised sport hours. It is a proper run for a dog that wants to move, with one caveat worth understanding before you drop the lead: the enclosure is not a fully sealed, double-gated dog park.

The dog setup

The oval is a designated off-lead zone under Darebin's pets in parks rules, but only when formal sport is not on. If football or cricket training or a match is running, the lead stays on and you stay clear of the oval. The council's standard buffers also apply: no off-lead within 10 metres of the playground or shared paths, or within 30 metres of BBQ areas. Carry a leash at all times, keep voice control, and pick up.

On the fencing: the area reads as mostly enclosed, but sections along the boundary sit close to busy roads around Murray Road and Gower Street and feel open in places. If your dog is a flight risk or fixes on balls heading for the fence line, keep recall sharp and position yourself away from the road side.

Pepsi: treat this as a voice-control park rather than an escape-proof one. The space is the reward, but the boundaries are only as good as your recall.

Worth knowing

There is a water tap with a dog bowl near the outdoor gym, some seating, and no public toilets on site, so plan accordingly. The oval is a genuine football and cricket hub, so winter weekends and weeknight training windows shrink the off-lead space quickly.

Getting there and parking

Entry is off Blake Street via the gravel road behind the Northland precinct, with parking on site. Buses along Murray Road and Cramer Street serve the area, and the 86 tram corridor is close by if you are coming from further afield.

While you're out there

Red Bean Coffee Roaster is the local dog-friendly coffee stop after a run. If you specifically need a fully fenced, secure enclosure, Ford Park Fenced Dog Park at Bellfield is a short drive away, and Edwardes Lake Park Dog Off Lead Area in Reservoir adds a lake walk to the off-lead run.

More options are on the Victoria dog parks guide and the Preston destination page.