Can non-residents use Macomb County dog parks?

Usually, yes. Warren, MiDOG in Eastpointe, the Statler-Maloof Bark Park in St. Clair Shores, Clinton Township, Pioneer Park in Utica and Pitchford Park in Macomb Township all list non-resident memberships, generally at a higher rate. Center Line residents pay the Warren-resident rate at Warren's park, and Shelby Township residents can join Utica's. Stony Creek's off-leash area is open to anyone with a Metroparks vehicle pass.

Are dogs allowed on the beach at Lake St. Clair Metropark?

No. Metroparks rules keep dogs off beaches, nature trails, playgrounds and golf courses, and out of buildings. At Lake St. Clair Metropark, dogs on a leash of 6 feet or less can use the paved and rustic trails, including a 3.75-mile paved trail. Stony Creek is the same: no pets at either of its beaches.

Where can small dogs play off-leash in Macomb County?

Four parks have separate small-dog space. The Sterling Heights Dog Park has a 0.75-acre small-dog area, Pitchford Park in Macomb Township has a 0.3-acre one, and Statler-Maloof in St. Clair Shores has a small area for little dogs. At Pioneer Park in Utica, dogs 25 pounds or less can use the small-dog area, and big dogs stay out while small ones are there.

Can I bring my dog on the Macomb Orchard Trail?

Yes, on a leash. The county's 24-mile paved trail runs from Dequindre and 24 Mile in Shelby Township to Division Road and Main Street in Richmond, through Washington Township, Romeo and Armada. Macomb County requires pets on its trails to be leashed, and its safety rules set the leash at 6 feet. Bring supplies to clean up after your dog.

Macomb County Dog Parks & Dog-Friendly Trails

Macomb County dogs have plenty of places to stretch their legs, as long as you know each one's rules. Here's every public off-leash dog park we found in September 2026, what it takes to get in, and where to walk on a leash.

Where are the off-leash dog parks in Macomb County?

We found nine: eight city and township dog parks, plus the off-leash area at Stony Creek Metropark. Here's where each one is and what it asks of you.

Dog park	Where	What you need
Anne Fracassa Memorial Dog Park	Burdi Park, Pauline St. and 12 Mile Rd., Warren	A key fob from Warren Parks and Recreation at the Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden. Bring your dog's license number and its rabies, parvo/distemper and Bordetella records.
MiDOG Park	Memorial Park, 24820 Flower, Eastpointe	An etiquette class, then an annual key fob from the Recreation Authority Center, 18185 Sycamore in Roseville. Bring your dog license receipt and vaccination records.
Statler-Maloof Bark Park	Brys Park, 20700 Brys, St. Clair Shores	An etiquette class before you can buy a membership, then a key fob from Parks and Recreation. Bring your dog's paper license and its rabies, DHLPP and Bordetella records.
Sterling Heights Dog Park	Delia Park, 41801 Ryan Rd., Sterling Heights	An annual pass, with your dog's current license, immunization records and a signed code of conduct on file.
Clinton Township Dog Park	Civic Center Park, 40700 Romeo Plank Rd., Clinton Township	A one-year membership, with shot records on veterinarian letterhead (Bordetella, distemper and rabies) and a paper copy of your dog license.
Behnke Memorial Dog Park	Memorial Park, 300 N. Groesbeck, Mount Clemens	Built for non-aggressive dogs. The city's parks page lists no membership; city parks are open dawn to dusk.
Pioneer Park Dog Park	7505 Hahn St., Utica	A key fob membership from Utica City Hall, 7550 Auburn Rd., with your dog's paper license and rabies, DHPP and Bordetella records on file (application). Shelby Township residents can join, too.
Pitchford Park Dog Park	49699 Romeo Plank Rd., Macomb Township	A membership key tag, a Macomb County dog license and a rabies vaccination. Up to three dogs per household can be registered, two per visit.
Stony Creek Metropark off-leash area	Oakgrove Picnic Area, 4300 Main Park Rd., Shelby Township	A Metroparks daily or annual vehicle pass. Leash up going in and out through the concrete entry bullpen.

No dog park in your town? Center Line points residents to Warren's, where Center Line residents pay the Warren-resident rate. MiDOG is run by the Recreation Authority of Roseville and Eastpointe, so it's Roseville's dog park too.

Got a small dog? Sterling Heights has a 0.75-acre small-dog area, Pitchford has a 0.3-acre one, Statler-Maloof has a small area for little dogs, and Pioneer's small-dog area is for dogs 25 pounds or less.

What do you need to join a Macomb County dog park?

Usually three things: a membership or pass, your dog's current license and its vaccination records. Two parks also require an etiquette class.

A dog license. Michigan law requires every dog to have a license and a rabies vaccination, Macomb County Animal Control notes, and most parks ask to see the license. Our guide to Macomb County dog laws explains where to get one.
Vaccination records. Warren, Clinton Township, St. Clair Shores and Utica each list rabies, distemper (as DHPP or DHLPP) and Bordetella. Ask your veterinarian what your dog is due for before you apply.
An etiquette class. MiDOG and Statler-Maloof require one before you can get in.
A membership. Several parks sell memberships by the year, and Warren, MiDOG, Statler-Maloof, Clinton Township, Pioneer and Pitchford all list non-resident rates, so you're not limited to your own city's park.
An adult in charge. Sterling Heights doesn't allow children under 6, Pioneer and Pitchford draw the line at 5, and all three require an adult with older kids.

Where can you walk a dog on a leash in Macomb County?

On the county's paved trails, in the three Metroparks and in most city and township parks, on a leash of 6 feet or less in most places.

Trail or park	What's there	Dog rules
Macomb Orchard Trail	24 paved miles from Dequindre and 24 Mile in Shelby Township to Division and Main in Richmond, through Washington Township, Romeo and Armada	Leash required; bring supplies to clean up
Freedom Trail	Nearly 10 miles along 16 Mile Road and Metro Parkway, from Schoenherr Road in Sterling Heights to Lake St. Clair Metropark	Leash required; bring supplies to clean up
Stony Creek Metropark	A 6.1-mile paved loop around Stony Creek Lake, Shelby Township	6-foot leash; no pets at either beach
Lake St. Clair Metropark	A 3.75-mile paved trail, Harrison Township	6-foot leash on the paved and rustic trails; not on nature trails
Wolcott Mill Metropark	4.25 miles of paved North Branch trails, Ray Township	6-foot leash; no pets on the equestrian trails
Clinton River Trail System	461.1 acres through Dodge, Donovan, Farmstead and the North and South Clinton River parks, Sterling Heights	6-foot leash; cleanup mandatory
Nicholson Nature Center	A 1.7-mile out-and-back trail on 33 acres, Clinton Township	Leash required; bring supplies to clean up
Wetzel State Recreation Area	3.3 miles of hiking trails on 913 acres, Lenox Township	6-foot leash and cleanup; Recreation Passport required; open to hunting

Macomb County requires pets on its paved trails and nature trails to be leashed and asks you to bring supplies to clean up after them, and its trail safety rules set the leash at 6 feet. In Sterling Heights, the city's park rules require a 6-foot leash and make cleanup mandatory, and the Michigan DNR sets the rules at Wetzel.

City and township parks mostly welcome leashed dogs, with some exceptions. Roseville and Fraser keep dogs to park parking lots, the walks right beside them and areas signed for domestic animals. St. Clair Shores allows them only in Wahby Park and Blossom Heath Park, apart from the dog park. Chesterfield Township opened its parks to leashed dogs in December 2023, though not on splash pads, piers or ball diamonds.

Are dogs allowed in the Metroparks?

Yes, on a leash, but not everywhere. The Metroparks rules allow dogs only on a leash no longer than 6 feet, under the immediate control of a responsible person. Dogs aren't permitted in nature and farm areas, on golf courses, playgrounds or beaches, or in buildings, and every vehicle needs a Metroparks pass.

The one place to unclip is the off-leash area in Stony Creek's Oakgrove Picnic Area, which has water, benches and dog waste stations. Wherever you walk, the Metroparks ask you to be prepared to clean up after your dog.

What is good dog park etiquette?

Follow the posted rules, watch your dog the whole time, and leave with everything your dog left behind. These come straight from the rules at Pioneer Park, Pitchford Park and other local parks:

Leash up until you're inside the gate. Pitchford and Pioneer require it, and Stony Creek asks for a leash going in and out, too.
Leave dogs in heat at home, and wait on young puppies. Pioneer bars dogs in heat and puppies under 4 months. Pitchford bars dogs in heat or pregnant, and puppies under 5 months.
Bring no more than two dogs. Pioneer and Pitchford allow two dogs per adult, and MiDOG sets the same limit.
Pick up every time. Pioneer's rules cover inside and outside the fence.
Skip the snacks. Pitchford bans human and dog food, treats included.
Watch the play. At the first sign of aggression, leash up and leave; Pioneer and Pitchford both require it, and Pitchford bans a dog that bites.
Use the right side of the fence. At Pioneer, big dogs stay out of the small-dog area while small dogs are in it.
Fill any holes your dog digs, as MiDOG's rules ask.
Keep shots current, and ask your veterinarian which vaccines your dog needs.

Does the backyard still need scooping?

Yes. A trip to the park doesn't change the daily routine: your dog still goes out in the yard every day, and those piles stay put until someone picks them up. Keep a bag in your pocket at the park, and let us take care of the yard. Weekly service is $19 a visit for one dog, and here's how often to scoop for your crew. Get your price in about 30 seconds.

Dog parks and dog-friendly trails in Macomb County