Calgary parks
Evanston off-leash area
Evanston's designated off-leash area sits in Calgary's northwest, a strip tucked between two residential streets. We have read the City's map for it, and it says less than people assume: a boundary, an address, a pathway, and no fence drawn. This page covers what the map shows, what we verify before a visit, the leash rules that apply, and how we train there with a dog whose recall is still forming.
Last reviewed September 25, 2026
The City map
One strip between Evansford Circle and Evansford Grove.
The City's July 2021 map for EVN-001 gives the address as 12708 Evanspark Boulevard NW and draws the off-leash area as a hatched strip running east from Symons Valley Parkway NW, between Evansford Circle NW to the north and Evansford Grove NW to the south. No fence is drawn on the strip. A pathway line meets its east end. A 2021 map does not establish what stands there today, so we treat fencing as unverified until we have checked the posted signs on site.
In public spaces, including streets, sidewalks and parks, the City's dog bylaw requires a leash unless a posted sign designates the space off-leash, so the designation ends at the sign, not the sidewalk. Inside the area, dogs must remain in sight and respond to sight or sound commands. Paved pathways inside any off-leash area stay on-leash, with the leash no longer than two metres. Those are the pathway rules; the long line we describe below belongs on the grass, away from the pathway.
- EVN-001, 12708 Evanspark Boulevard NW
- Strip runs east from Symons Valley Parkway
- Fencing unverified, check signs on site
- Leash rule ends at the sign
Recall first
Recall has to exist before the leash comes off.
The map gives us two things to plan around: a strip with residential streets along both edges, and a boundary we cannot assume is fenced. Training is not a substitute for a fence, and a fence is not a substitute for a recall, because the other dogs are inside it with yours. So we bring a dog here once the recall has been built somewhere quieter, keep the first visits on a long line on the grass, and pick quiet hours.
Four board and train programs are relevant here. Puppy Fundamentals (three weeks, $2,775 plus GST) works on name recognition, sit and stay and leash manners. On-Leash Foundations (two weeks, $1,865 plus GST) covers loose-leash walking, heel, place and everyday distractions. Functional Off-Leash (three weeks, $3,030 plus GST, Educator remote collar included) is built for reliable recall around distractions. Advanced Off-Leash (four weeks, $3,940 plus GST) adds distance commands and public manners. We recommend one at the consultation, and a smaller one when it is enough.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Where is the Evanston off leash area?
The City lists it as EVN-001 at 12708 Evanspark Boulevard NW. On the July 2021 map it is the strip between Evansford Circle NW and Evansford Grove NW, starting at Symons Valley Parkway NW on the west end.
Is the Evanston dog park in Calgary fenced?
The City's July 2021 map for EVN-001 includes a fence symbol in its legend and does not draw one on the site, and a map that old cannot tell us what stands there now. We check the posted signs and walk the boundary before a dog comes off the line, and we plan as if the area is open either way. Under the bylaw, a dog inside must stay in sight and respond to commands, fence or no fence.
What are the rules at the off leash park in Evanston NW?
Calgary's dog bylaw applies: in public spaces a dog stays leashed unless a posted sign designates the space off-leash, and inside the area it must remain in sight and respond to sight or sound commands. Paved pathways stay on-leash with a leash no longer than two metres. The designation covers the strip on the City map and nothing beyond the signs.
Is the Evanston dog park a good place for a puppy?
Not as an open playground, in our experience. We use a strip like this on a long line, on the grass rather than the pathway, for short recall reps and calm exposure, and we leave before the puppy gets overwhelmed. The structured socialization built into Puppy Fundamentals is the version of this we prefer for a young dog.
Keep reading
Recall work, one-on-one.
From leash foundations to recall around distractions, every program runs one-on-one, and we say when a smaller one is enough. Book a consultation.
From real owners
Rated 5.0 on Google.
Real Northline dogs