Cheyenne Park

Cheyenne Off-Leash Dog Park is located off Old River Road on the south side of Cedar Rapids near the Cedar River. This park is 13.8 acres of fenced green space separated into the main yard, training yard, and small dog yard. The main dog yard is accompanied by a walking path, benches, and an open-air shelter. The walking trail also extends through mature woods.

The separate training yard (on the left as you enter) is fenced off for dog training and preparing your dogs socially for the main yard. Only one dog owner is allowed at a time, with a maximum time of 20 minutes. The small dog yard (on the right as you enter) allows smaller dogs to enjoy off-leash exercise in a more controlled environment.

You’ll find ample parking, water (during the warmer months), dog waste bags, and trash cans for your convenience.

Cheyenne Park’s History

In June of 2000, the Cedar Rapids Parks Department asked for community volunteers to come to a meeting to assess interest in creating an off-leash area. With the support of Dale Todd, then Commissioner of Parks & Public Property, this core group of volunteers began working to determine the feasibility of this project in our community. They did research on other parks around the country, reviewed prospective sites, and took surveys. They made presentations, raised money, marched in parades, and manned information tables at local retail establishments and dog events. They were also thrilled to get a generous matching donation of $10,000 from local benefactors Lee and Andrea Liu, which was used for fencing. The City of Cedar Rapids provided the land and labor for developing the park (it is a city park).

The hard work paid off in the fall of 2001 when the first annual permits went on sale at Rover’s Run in September, and the Park officially opened on November 17th! Finally, 36.5% of households in town with dogs are represented recreationally. Within 12 months of opening in November 2001, dog owners bought over 550 annual permits. More than 600 people and 750 dogs used the park with both annual and daily permits, representing 84 dog breeds, and people from 41 cities in 8 states. A pretty impressive beginning.

Address

1650 Cedar Bend Ln SW
Ely, IA 52227