C.H. Sullivan Memorial Park Dog Off Leash Area

C.H. Sullivan Memorial Park on Blake Street in Reservoir is a big, open Darebin reserve built around sports: three rugby grounds on the west side, an oval to the east, and grassy tree-dotted edges that carry the council's off-leash dog area. It is a roomy, unfenced run in a suburb that does not lack for dog parks, and it works best for dogs who already come back when called.

The dog setup

Off-leash here means effective voice control, a council registration tag on the collar and bags in hand, under Darebin's standard Pets in Parks rules. There is no fence, so the boundary is your dog's training. Lead up within 10 metres of playgrounds, shared paths and bike tracks and within 30 metres of the barbecue and picnic areas, and expect to clip the lead on whenever organised sport is using the grounds, which is a fair slice of Saturday.

What's there

A drinking fountain with a ground-level dog bowl near the gym and playground, paved accessible paths around the park, benches to watch from and bins at the entries. The sports pavilion toilets open during standard hours. It is a plain, functional setup rather than an agility park; the draw is open space, not equipment.

Getting there and parking

The park sits off Blake Street, where a gravel road leads to parking beside the playground and fields. Reservoir station on the Mernda line is within walking distance, and buses run along Edwardes Street. Being inner-north Melbourne, most locals arrive on foot with a ball under one arm.

Close by with the dogs

The Edwardes Lake Park Dog Off-Lead Area is the bigger, prettier option in Reservoir and pairs well if you want a longer circuit, while Crispe Park Dog Off Leash Area is a quieter neighbourhood alternative. For coffee after, All Heart Cafe is a local dog-welcoming stop.

Weekday mornings and the late-afternoon shift are busiest with local regulars; late morning is quieter, and the eastern grass turns to mud after winter rain, so a towel in the car earns its keep. More options are on the Victoria dog-friendly parks guide and the Reservoir destination page.