The off-leash dog park area at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s Mayslake in Oak Brook is a great place for socializing.
Everybody seems to be happy while at Mayslake, a 3.5-acre fenced in area on the east side of St. Paschal Drive, south of 31st Street and west of Route 83 that allows dogs to frolic and people to visit.
“Regardless of what anyone does or what their political beliefs might be, when they come here you know they love dogs,” said Patrick Cooksey of Hinsdale, who comes to Mayslake two to three times a week with his dog, Mugs, a French mastiff.
“I don’t know the names of most of the people who come, but I know the dogs. I like the people and the dogs here. It’s nice to meet people, and they’re nice here.”
Mike Olson of Willowbrook has been bringing his border collie, Ollie, nearly every day for about four years.
“He loves coming here,” Olson said. “The people here are very nice, and the dogs are good. I’ve been to a couple of dog parks, but I really like this one. It’s close, convenient and people clean up after their dogs here.”
Mayslake is one of six off-leash dog areas operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. The others are Blackwell in Warrenville, East Branch in Glendale Heights, Greene Valley and Springbrook Prairie in Naperville, and Pratt’s Wayne Woods in Wayne.
Dog owners must purchase off-leash permits in advance and have their dogs’ valid permits in their possession when in any of the off-leash areas.
“This is a great place for dogs to get exercise and socialize,” said John Lin of Oak Brook, who usually bring his dog, Ralphie, a husky/malamute mix, four times a week.
“He loves it,” Lin said. “He almost expects it, and he knows where he is when we’re coming here. He especially loves coming in the winter.”
Maureen Butler of Westmont has been coming for 11/2 years with her rescue dogs Gizmo and Bob the Dog.
“I come every morning and every night,” Butler said. “The people are nice here, and the dogs are safe. There’s never really any trouble.”
The Mayslake dog park is open from one hour after sunrise to one hour after sunset, except for Thursdays when it opens at 10 a.m.
Permits for off-leash dog areas cost $40 a year and $8 a day for DuPage County residents and $150 a year and $20 a day for non-residents for the first dog. Each additional dog is $8 a year or day for residents and $25 a year and $20 a day for non-residents.
Permits may be purchased Monday to Friday at the forest preserve district headquarters, 3S580 Naperville Road, Wheaton.
Applicants must be age 18 or older. Seniors, active military personnel, and honorably discharged veterans are entitled each year to one free permit per household.
For more information, call 630-933-7248.
Other guidelines at Mayslake:
* Keep dogs current on distemper, parvovirus and rabies vaccinations. Dogs must wear valid rabies tags at all times.
* No use of animals — alive or dead — for any purpose
* No use of ammunition of any kind
* No use of devices that use an explosive force to propel a retrievable object
* Dogs to be leashed when they are no within the boundaries of the off-leash dog area, especially in the parking lot and while walking to and from vehicles.
* Dog owners to carry leashes and leash and remove their dogs from the park at the first sign of aggression.
* Not bringing more than three dogs at a time
Twitter: @chuckwriting
