Martin Reserve Fenced Dog Park

Martin Reserve Fenced Dog Park is a fully fenced off-leash park on the corner of Essex Street and Blandford Street in West Footscray, roughly 130 by 100 metres of grass run inside high fences. The double-gated entries are the headline: dogs cannot bolt past you while you are fumbling the lead off, which is what you want on a busy inner-west corner.

The dog setup

Off-leash applies anywhere inside the fenced perimeter, and the reserve is open around the clock. Dogs go back on lead the moment you step out the gates. A separate enclosure caters for small or nervous dogs, and mature trees throw useful shade over the grass, which has some bare patches and gravel paths from heavy use. Water taps with bowls sit on site, doggy bag bins are posted at both entrances, low bluestone walls double as dog perches, and a sand pit appears from time to time for diggers.

Worth knowing

Keep voice control over your dog, clean up immediately, and remove an aggressive dog from the park straight away. The reserve is a shared open space rather than a dedicated kids' area, so supervise children closely if they come along. Sheltered seating near the Blandford Street entrance gives owners a dry spot in winter.

Max: high fences, double gates and a small-dog yard make this the workhorse park of the inner west. Expect friendly regulars and plenty of dogs in the late afternoon wave.

Getting there

Street parking lines Essex and Blandford Streets, and the reserve sits a short walk from Footscray and West Footscray stations, with buses along Barkly Street and the Geelong Road corridor. The Maribyrnong River is a few blocks west if you want to extend the walk.

While you're out there

McIvor Reserve Fenced Dog Park and Francis St Fully Fenced Dog Park are the Yarraville alternatives, and the Maribyrnong River Trail makes a good on-lead leg-stretcher. Footscray Park Dog Off Leash Area is up the hill towards the river.

More options are on the Victoria parks guide and the West Footscray destination page.