People love Charleston. They love living here. They love visiting here. They love doing things here. Charleston has won many travel awards in recent years, including Conde Nast Traveler’s Best City in the World (Readers’ Choice Awards 2012).
However, another species–one that is often overlooked–also enjoys Charleston as much as the traditional human visitor or resident because the area has emerged as a friendly city for dogs.
Mount Pleasant, a quick drive from historic downtown Charleston has emerged as a particularly dog-friendly area. On any given day, chances are that you will spot a four-legged family member getting some fresh air with his or her owner around town. A large portion of Mt. Pleasant families own dogs and the city acknowledged this trend by transforming Mount Pleasant into an outdoor city for dogs. With the development of dog friendly parks throughout Mt. Pleasant, canine owners have never found it easier to take man’s best friend for a walk or mingle with neighbors within a dog friendly community while simultaneously enjoying the beautiful Lowcountry weather.
The leash laws in Mt. Pleasant prohibit dogs from running free from a private residence, but with the establishment of these dog friendly parks within family oriented neighborhoods, accessing a safe, fun place to let your dog play is easy. These designated areas include large open areas for dogs to run and play freely without being hampered by a leash. Because of these dog runs, the Town of Mount Pleasant is transforming the evening chore of walking the dog into a family bonding activity.
Mt. Pleasant’s Palmetto Islands County Park is a great place to walk your dog.
In 2009, in an effort to make Mt. Pleasant a more friendly city for dogs, the town finished construction of an off-leash dog park within the Park West Recreation Complex on Highway 17 North. This large, fenced-in dog park has a small pond where dogs can cool off on a hot summer day and enjoy roaming free with their canine friends. One downside to this location is that there are no separate sections for different sized dog breeds so small dogs may be easily intimidated by the presence of larger breeds.
One of the newest and largest dog parks is located off Rifle Range Road in Mt.Pleasant next to the Joe Gawrych Baseball Complex. This area features two large fenced-in sections for bigger dog breeds and one for small dogs. This centrally-located dog park is less than 3 miles from the Old Village (known to some as Old Mount Pleasant) and minutes from midtown communities like Snee Farm and Hamlin Plantation. This dog park also features several walking trails that visitors can utilize while the dog is on leash and lots of open space for playing catch or throwing the Frisbee with the kids.
A dog playing in one of Mt. Pleasant’s many dog parks.
The nature-oriented canine lovers looking for activities in this city for dogs may be looking for a more rustic, expansive, and activity-oriented park. The Palmetto Islands County Park is designed just for that purpose. This beautiful park features 943 acres of natural, tropical development with views of the Lowcountry marshland and includes bicycle paths, picnic areas, boardwalks and an exclusive off-leash dog park for your canine. This park is located off of Long Point Road in the Longpoint Subdivision and is also a short drive from Belle Hall in Mt. Pleasant, which making it perfect for a full day adventure with the family.
There is another dog park right off of Rifle Range Road
Whether you are browsing real estate in Mount Pleasant or looking to buy a home specifically in Park West, Hamlin Park, Old Village, or Belle Hall or any of the surrounding areas, Mount Pleasant has made huge strides in accommodating all members of your family. By providing dog friendly parks within family oriented neighborhoods, the Town of Mount Pleasant is busy creating the Lowcountry’s best city for dogs.
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