Prairie Moraine Dog Park Friends

08/08/2026

Labor Day Weekend Closure
Prairie Moraine Dog Park will be closed Thur Sept 5 to Sat Sept 7 for work day and a private event.
No dogs allowed for a run

07/11/2026

Question was asked:

With the alarming reports of dogs getting sick after using Prairie Moraine Dog Park, does anyone have information if RoundUp was applied on Saturday June 26? People have said it was used in the grass around the rocks in parking lot. This was a busy Saturday, unknown to park users passing through, and the park was not closed. What is Dane County Parks policy for using herbicides around dogs at a dog park?
Dane County Parks

Send a message to learn more

06/27/2026

LOST WALLET. Be on the look out for a lost wallet at Prairie Moraine Dog Park. If found please message us to get it returned to the rightful owner.
Dane County Parks

06/18/2026

I am extremely disappointed by how the poison ivy situation at the dog park has been handled.

Before the extensive clearing and mowing began, there was only a small, manageable patch of poison ivy in the park. Since those activities took place, the plant has spread throughout acres of the property, creating a serious problem for both people and dogs who use the park.

What is most frustrating is that despite reports of hundreds of park users and their pets suffering painful reactions and requiring medical treatment, park staff reportedly stated that they were not going to address the issue because poison ivy is a native plant. Apparently, the health and safety concerns of the many people and animals affected were not enough to warrant action.

Yet when a volunteer experienced the same problem and became affected by the poison ivy, the issue suddenly seemed to receive attention. This raises a difficult question: Why did the experience of one individual carry more weight than the concerns of the many park users and dogs who have been dealing with this for months?

No one is suggesting that every native plant be removed. However, when a known health hazard has expanded dramatically due to park management practices and is impacting large numbers of visitors and pets, responsible management requires more than simply ignoring the problem.

The community deserves an honest explanation of what happened, acknowledgment of the impact on park users, and a clear plan to address the outbreak going forward.

Continued closures for herbicide usage should not be Dane County Parks go to!!!

06/18/2026

I am extremely disappointed by how the poison ivy situation at the dog park has been handled.

Before the extensive clearing and mowing began, there was only a small, manageable patch of poison ivy in the park. Since those activities took place, the plant has spread throughout acres of the property, creating a serious problem for both people and dogs who use the park.

What is most frustrating is that despite reports of hundreds of park users and their pets suffering painful reactions and requiring medical treatment, park staff reportedly stated that they were not going to address the issue because poison ivy is a native plant. Apparently, the health and safety concerns of the many people and animals affected were not enough to warrant action.

Yet when a volunteer experienced the same problem and became affected by the poison ivy, the issue suddenly seemed to receive attention. This raises a difficult question: Why did the experience of one individual carry more weight than the concerns of the many park users and dogs who have been dealing with this for months?

No one is suggesting that every native plant be removed. However, when a known health hazard has expanded dramatically due to park management practices and is impacting large numbers of visitors and pets, responsible management requires more than simply ignoring the problem.

The community deserves an honest explanation of what happened, acknowledgment of the impact on park users, and a clear plan to address the outbreak going forward.

The Prairie Moraine Dog Park is planned to be CLOSED all day on Thursday, June 25 for the treatment of noxious weeds and hazard tree storm cleanup. Please use another dog park on this day. This work is weather dependent.

Sign up to receive closure notifications on this or other Dane County Parks properties: www.countyofdane.com/parksnotifications

05/28/2026

Poison Ivy Explosion at the Dog Park

A serious warning to everyone using the park — the poison ivy has exploded this year, and it is becoming difficult to avoid in many areas. Dogs running through it can carry the oils back on their fur, spreading it to owners, children, and even into homes and vehicles.

What is especially frustrating is that this problem did not happen by accident. The large-scale removal of mature trees and natural canopy has completely changed the environment of the park. Poison ivy thrives in disturbed areas with increased sunlight. When healthy wooded areas are stripped away and the ground is opened up, invasive and irritating plants like poison ivy move in aggressively.

What was once a shaded, balanced natural space is increasingly turning into open, exposed ground that is less safe for both dogs and people.

If you visit the park:

* Watch where your dogs are running.
* Avoid edges of cleared areas and brush lines.
* Wash dogs, shoes, leashes, and clothing after visits if exposure is possible.
* Learn to identify poison ivy because it is spreading rapidly.

For a park people are paying to use, safety and environmental stewardship should matter. Removing trees without understanding the long-term consequences is creating problems that now directly affect the health and safety of park users and their pets.

Photos taken May 28 2026

Dane County Parks

04/25/2026

Yesterday at the park, a small black-and-white dog was found wandering alone with no owner in sight. The sheriff was called and the dog was taken to a shelter.

Does anyone know if the owner has been found or which shelter the dog was taken to or any additional information?

Thank you for those that cared enough to get involved.

04/24/2026

FYI...I was told it was reported.

04/20/2026

I have been informed about the damaged culvert at the curve of the gravel road. It has been damaged by some kind of heavy equipment and has jagged damaged metal both inside and and out. I was told to avoid this area if you dog likes to go into it, or if you have children that like to explore, as it is said to be very dangerous! I will add photos when I receive them.

It has been reported to

04/20/2026

Since vegetation was cleared, stormwater runoff appears to be concentrating directly onto the walking paths. This has created deep erosion channels along the trail, making sections uneven, muddy, and potentially hazardous for pedestrians and dogs. In many areas, the trail is actively washing out.
Based on the current conditions, it seems that water is not being properly diverted off the trails surface. The lack of drainage features (such as water bars, grade dips, or side drainage) is allowing runoff to follow the trail and accelerate erosion.
In the current state, many section of trails may present a safety risk. It may be worth evaluating drainage improvements and trail stabilization measures to prevent further degradation.
Does Dane County Parks have any plans to improve the drainage?
These are pictures taken after workday, after being fixed.
— at Prairie Moraine Dog Park Friends.


Shared with permission