Olympic Dog Park

Olympic Dog Park occupies a corner of Olympic Park at Potts Street and Margaret Street in Gladesville, within the City of Ryde, and it has become a fixture for local dog owners largely because of one feature: a big grassy hill that dogs treat as their own sprint track. The off-leash area runs around the clock, so early commutes and late walks both work, and the sloping ground gives fetch and recall sessions a workout that flat parks cannot match.

The dog setup

The off-leash zone is only partially fenced, with gaps around the boundary where it opens into the wider park, so it suits dogs with reliable recall rather than confirmed escape artists. Council rules apply as they do across Ryde's off-leash areas: dogs must stay within the sign-posted zone, remain under effective voice control with a competent handler present, and each person is limited to four dogs. Dogs declared dangerous or restricted under the Companion Animals Act are not permitted, and droppings need to be collected immediately. Dogs are also excluded from the adjoining children's playground footprint.

On the practical side there is a dog drinking station, poo bag dispensers and bins, and benches at the top of the hill where owners can sit while keeping an eye on the action below.

Max: walk the fence line before you unclip. The gaps matter more than the 24 hour hours if your dog bolts at the sight of a jogger.

The vibe

This is a neighbourhood park rather than a destination, and the regulars reflect that: friendly local dogs, a mixed crowd of families and apartment dwellers, and enough space for a proper run despite the play equipment nearby. Visitors mention the easygoing dogs and the hill as the drawcards. Because it is unfenced, reactive-dog owners should treat it as a lead-walking park first and an off-leash park second.

Getting there and parking

Free on-street parking runs along Potts Street and the surrounding Gladesville streets, though peak times can mean a lap or two. Buses along Victoria Road stop within a five to ten minute walk, which makes it reachable from much of the inner west without a car.

More walks nearby

If the fence gaps are a dealbreaker, Ryde Park Fenced Dog Park offers a fully enclosed option a few minutes away. For a morning coffee after the hill workout, CAV & CO. Cafe and Charles Street Kitchen Putney both welcome dogs at outdoor tables, and Meadowbank Dog Beach is close enough for a water-loving dog's second outing of the day.

More options are on the New South Wales dog parks guide and the Ryde destination page.