Prairie Point Dog Park at 5401 NW Johnston Drive is open. At the city's Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Sept. 14, 2026, the parks director said the dog park "is complete. It's open." Before it opened, Johnston had no official off-leash park. Dog owners used the Urbandale dog park at Walker Johnston Park or the Raccoon River Dog Park in West Des Moines.
There was no big opening day. A Johnston Brief guide updated in August 2026 still described a spring opening and a grand opening "to be announced." By the September commission meeting, the park was open. You'll need to do a little setup at home before your first visit. Two separate city documents get you in. Some of the grant-funded amenities announced this summer went to the Beaver Creek kayak launch first. And mid-September flooding was a reminder that Johnston's outdoor spaces close when the water rises.
Two Documents, Not One
Prairie Point requires a permit. You can't just show up. To use it legally, a Johnston resident needs two things:
- A Dog Park Pass. Johnston's RecDesk system lists an "Annual Dog Park Pass (Residents)" for the 5401 NW Johnston Drive site. A local guide reports the price as $25 for residents and $40 for non-residents, bought online ahead of time. The RecDesk listing doesn't show a price, so check the current amount there before you buy.
- A Johnston pet license. The city's pet licensing code requires an annual license for every dog or cat over six months old. The fee is $10. The application requires a veterinarian's rabies certificate showing the vaccination will stay valid for at least six months from the license date.
The second item can catch you on timing. Under the code, Johnston pet licenses expire on December 31. A license bought in October 2026 covers less than three months before you have to renew. If your dog was never licensed, you still need one to use the park. Just plan for both the fall purchase and the year-end renewal. The rabies rule matters too. If your dog's vaccination expires within six months of the date you apply, it won't qualify. Get the vet visit done before the license application.
The sources we found don't say whether the Dog Park Pass also renews on a calendar-year cycle or runs 12 months from purchase. The RecDesk listing calls it "annual" without giving dates. Ask the Johnston Parks Department, 515-727-8091, when you buy it.
How It Compares With the Parks You Used Before
If your dog has been going to Raccoon River Dog Park, you already know this kind of system. West Des Moines publishes its fees on its official licenses and permits page.
| Prairie Point, Johnston | Raccoon River Dog Park, West Des Moines | |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual pass | $25, as reported by a local guide | $20 per dog |
| Non-resident annual pass | $40, as reported by a local guide | $45 per dog |
| Day pass | Not listed in sources reviewed | $5 per dog |
| City pet license required | Yes, $10 per dog | Yes, for resident permit buyers |
| Where to buy | Johnston RecDesk, online | Barkpass online, or in person at City Hall Parks & Rec and the Nature Lodge, Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–5 p.m. |
West Des Moines charges by the dog. The sources we found don't say whether Johnston's pass covers one dog or a whole household. For multi-dog households, that's the most important thing to ask before comparing costs. For a Johnston resident with one dog, the reported prices are close: $25 plus a $10 license at home, or $45 as a non-resident at Raccoon River. We couldn't verify Urbandale's current fees for Walker Johnston Park, so we left them out.
What's at the Site Right Now
The physical layout is set. A local guide describes a 6-acre, ADA-friendly site with two separately fenced areas: about 0.64 acre for large dogs and about 0.38 acre for small dogs. Hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, according to Johnston's RecDesk listing.
At the Sept. 14 meeting, the director also described what the park has and doesn't have:
"Separate big-dog and little-dog areas, rule signage and water stations, but no restrooms and limited parking behind the Department of Public Works."
That quote is a summary of the director's remarks, not a word-for-word transcript. The facts still matter for planning. Parking is shared with a trailhead lot. With limited spaces, a busy trail morning means fewer spots for dog park visitors. There are no restrooms, so the closest one is wherever you stopped before you came. Water stations mean you don't have to haul a jug, though a collapsible bowl still helps for the walk back to the car. The commission meeting also noted maintenance needs at the new park. That's common for any new turf site in its first season.
The Grant Money Reached the River First
Some of the amenities planned for Prairie Point are coming from a different project. On Aug. 6, 2026, the City of Johnston announced that a 2025 Betterment Grant from Prairie Meadows is paying for new amenities at the Beaver Creek kayak launch and the dog park. The list includes bike repair stations, a bike rack, benches, picnic tables, trash cans and dog-waste bag dispensers.
The city said everything at the kayak launch was installed. It also said it "looks forward to completing additional improvements supported through the grant." The September description of the dog park mentions water stations and signs, but not the benches, picnic tables or bag dispensers from the grant list. We couldn't confirm whether the dog park's share is installed yet. Bring your own bags until you see the dispensers.
Kari Allen, the city's Parks & Recreation Superintendent, described the grant as a community partnership that lets the city "continue investing in the quality-of-life amenities that make Johnston a great place to live, work, and play." The kayak launch with the finished amenities is off Merle Hay Road near the Bombers complex, according to the Des Moines Register's 2024 coverage of the launch plan. A city staff report places it near 5055 Merle Hay Road.
September's High Water
The grant work and the new dog park both sit inside a trail and river system that flooded last month. On Sept. 15, 2026, Johnston closed trail gates and kayak launches across the city because of flooding and high water. By 2 p.m. on Sept. 18, trail gates had reopened except at the NW 62nd Ave East Trail. All kayak launches stayed closed.
That Sept. 18 update is the latest city word we found. It doesn't tell you whether the East Trail gate or the Beaver Creek launch is open today. The city said it would post updates on that page and its social media accounts. If you plan to pair a dog park visit with a trail loop, check that page first. Dogs are allowed on leash on Johnston's trails and in its parks, including the paths around Terra Park and the Beaver Creek trail. Off-leash running is limited to a designated dog park.
Before the First Trip
- Confirm your dog's rabies certificate is valid for at least six more months.
- Get or renew the $10 Johnston pet license, and note that it expires Dec. 31.
- Buy the Annual Dog Park Pass through Johnston RecDesk, and ask whether it covers one dog or the household.
- Pack waste bags and a water bowl, and use the restroom before you leave home.
- Check the city's trail closure page if a walk on the Beaver Creek trail is part of the plan.
A Trail Morning on Oct. 10
If you'd rather put the trails to use without a dog in tow, the city's Mayor's Run for the Trails 5K and Kids Fun Run is Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at the Terra Park Amphitheater, 6300 Pioneer Parkway. Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m. for anyone who didn't pick up a packet Friday, and all racers should be at the start by 9 a.m. The kids' 100-meter dash goes first, then the 0.62-mile kids' race, then the 5K walkers. 5K runners start at 9:30 a.m., and the mayor hands out finisher medals at the line.
The new dog park shows how much a small amount of preparation pays off. Owners who sort out the license, the pass and the parking ahead of time get a better first visit. Sellers who prepare their homes the same way get a better first showing. If you're thinking about how your Johnston home would show this season, Tim Lucken REAL can walk through it with you room by room. Schedule your free Market-Ready Consultation.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
