W.R. Ruthven V.C. Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

W.R. Ruthven V.C. Reserve on Malpas Street, Preston is a flat, open suburban reserve built around a big grassed oval. It is a simple proposition: room to run, a ball to chase, and off leash available around the clock except when sport takes the oval back. For an active dog that needs to empty the tank, it does the job.

The dog setup

Under City of Darebin rules, dogs may be off leash here at any time under effective voice control, provided organised sport, matches or training are not on. When they are, the lead goes straight back on. Keep dogs leashed within 10 metres of the playground and shared paths, carry a leash with you, and clean up after your dog. Dogs that are aggressive or on heat are not welcome.

One warning matters more than the rest: the reserve is only partly fenced by sports perimeter rails, and the gates are not secure. Treat it as unfenced. If your dog has a habit of exploring the exits, this is not the place to practise recall from scratch.

Max: The perimeter rails look like a fence but they are not. Gates can be open, so judge it as unfenced and keep your recall sharp.

Worth knowing

Amenities are basic: large open grass, sports fields, some outdoor gym equipment within the reserve, open seating and lighting into the evening. It gets busy around 7 to 9 in the morning and 4 to 6 in the evening, plus Saturday mornings; midday on a weekday is the calm window for a quieter dog.

Getting there and parking

Street parking on Malpas Street and Donald Street is easy. Keon Park station on the Mernda line is a 10 to 15 minute walk, and the local streets are bike friendly if you want to ride over with the dog trotting alongside.

Close by with the dogs

If you need a proper fence, the dog off lead area at Edwardes Lake Park in Reservoir is a short drive, and G.H. Mott Reserve and Adams Reserve give you other off leash options within Preston. For the coffee stop afterwards, Jackson Dodds Cafe is a local fixture.

Browse more dog friendly parks across Victoria on the PawScapes parks directory, or see what else welcomes dogs in Preston.