Grand Rapids Has a Great Dog Park for You and Your Dog

If you're a dog owner you know they need lots of exercise. That may mean running, walking, playing, with your dog. You know the old saying, a tired dog is a happy dog.

Getty Images

But, okay, now I'm tired just thinking about all of that. So, if you haven't been doing this already, how about taking your dog to a Dog Park? Now you're talking about a good workout!

Fox17 reported that Grand Rapids has reopened the newly renovated Hillcrest Dog Park, seen above before work began, after the city finished an expansion project that includes new facilities.

This expansion, costing $350,000, was approved by voters and funded by the city's parks millage, according to the city of Grand Rapids, and the improvements are totally worth what was a long wait.

Fox17/City of Grand Rapids

Now you'll find:

Expanded entryway and off-leash area.
Wooded nature trail.
New benches.
Dog-accessible drinking fountain.
Accessible trails.
Rain garden.
Bike loops.
Improvements to landscaping.

The city knew that with all the dog owners in the city and surrounding area, they needed to "up their game" with Hillcrest Dog Park. They realized that it needed to be safe for both dogs and owners, and have multipurpose areas so everyone, canine and human, can relax, play and connect.

Of course, there is another good dog park in Grand Rapids, the Covell Dog Park at 526 Covell Avenue, NW on the West side, by Union High School.

Google Street View

As with any Dog Park, there are certain rules and regulations that you are asked to follow, so HERE IS THE LINK to find that information.

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.