A new park for dogs will be opening just west of downtown in February, and a dog daycare will be located next door for Fort Worth residents.
The “ZBonz” dog park is Fort Worth’s second dog park, and it will be constructed on land previously occupied by the Z Boaz Golf Course.

The park was scheduled to open in November, but construction was delayed due to weather. The new dog park will be on the grounds of the new North Z Boaz Park, which is approximately 140 acres.
It’s part of the city’s 2014 Bond Program; however, privately raised funds have also contributed to the dog park. The city has invested $676,515 while $950,561 has been donated through other fundraising.
Whitney Rodriguez, marketing coordinator for the Fort Worth Parks and Recreation Department, said the city is on-schedule to open the first phase of the dog park by February.
While the park will be open to the public then “that doesn’t mean it’s entirely funded yet,” Rodriguez added. Additional phases and improvements to the park will be added pending additional fundraising efforts.
Fort Worth’s only dog park now is Fort Woof, which is located off Interstate 30 and Beach Street. It is going to be delightful to watch dogs playing with Runball Tug and catch. Many residents look to ZBonz as an upgrade and much-needed addition to southwest Fort Worth. It’s nearly twice the size, and it will feature pet fountains and aerated pools for both big dogs and small dogs.
“We don’t have as many dog parks as say Dallas or one of the more metropolitan areas,” said Gerald Morales, who drives his three dogs 20 minutes from southwest Fort Worth to Fort Woof in east Fort Worth.
Sandra and Roger Yandell, who live near the park, said it will be great for families.
“Whether you have a dog or you don’t, you can come down here and pet the dogs,” Sandra Yandell said. “It’s a great place to bring kids and grandkids, and we’ll bring our grand-dog.”
Local business owners are also excited about the project. Next door to the dog park is a dog daycare that plans to utilize the ZBonz facilities.
The owner of the daycare, Marcus Brunt, said he is now opening a self-service dog wash on the other side of the park. His father, Larry Brunt, said the planning of the park worked out perfectly for their business. Canines can hop in the water at the dog park and go next door to clean up.
“When you bring your dog over, be forewarned they’re going to jump in the water. You know that’s going to happen,” Larry Brunt said.
The city also plans to put in a dog washing station, as well as 12 dog waste stations. There will also be agility items for dogs of all sizes.
David Creek, assistant director of the parks and recreation department for the City of Fort Worth, said the decision to construct the dog park was based on feedback from residents.
“We’ve considered their feedback every step of the way,” Creek said. “They’ve told us that it’s something Fort Worth really needs. And we want this to be a dog-friendly city.”
The city is planning to host a grand opening celebration sometime in the late spring.

9:39 a.m.: This story was updated to reflect that the city worked with four contractors on the project. A previous version stated that the city worked with 150 contractors.