Spectacular views give this Kansas City dog park a leg up

The sudden closing of Bar K, the popular bar/dog park near the River Market shocked its patrons and left a void in Kansas City’s off-leash opportunities.

But plenty of dog parks still dot the metro. All have fences, but they differ considerably in size, topography and the amenities they offer.

To learn more, we tromped around several of them during the “dog days of August,” including one that’s only a mile or some from Bar K.

The West Terrace Dog Park is a small, members-only operation run by KC’s Parks & Recreation Department on the edge of Quality Hill. Like the name implies, it’s tucked into the historic park that George Kessler carved out of the west bluffs long ago.

Some of the original stone walls and steps are sprinkled around the park’s terrain. There’s also a fancy shade pavilion that’s a hundred years newer.

Large and small dogs play together here, zipping around the hills for a better than average workout.

Kristen Reichert, an artist who lives two blocks away, says “It’s a great little community. Everyone’s really nice. And I’ve met interesting people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”

Reichert was working on a laptop while Bambino, her “more social” mini-Berniedoodle, made the rounds of familiar faces.

For Rusty Scott’s dog Elmer, the park means a seemingly endless supply of balls to chase and dogs to greet. “He likes it a lot,” Scott says. “I think he’d live here if we’d let him.”

Membership at West Terrace is $50 for the first year ($40 after that) which helps pay for regular upkeep on the grounds. The park also requires owners submit rabies vaccination records before their pets can participate.

Membership here has another important perk — the views of the West Bottoms and Missouri River are spectacular, especially at sunset. As Reichert says, “In our concrete jungle, this is a little haven. It’s really a hidden gem.”

Special note: Our “Take Me Out to the Dog Park” video from West Terrace includes Pug Cam footage by Monty Davis’ dog, Louie.

West Terrace Dog Park

Address: 805 Jefferson, Kansas City, MO.

Hours: 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily (not lighted)

Size: 1.5 acres

Features: Shaded pavilion, benches, poop bag dispenser, 2 water fountains