In this short from Naperville.com’s Living in Naperville series with the Dan Firks Team, one quick question at Springbrook Prairie gets a quick answer: what does it actually cost to let a dog run off leash there? The clip covers the daily rate, the annual permit, and the free permit that veterans can claim.
Read the full guide: Best Dog-Friendly Spots and Parks in Naperville IL →
What a Springbrook Prairie Dog Park Permit Costs
The off leash dog area at Springbrook Prairie is run by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, not by the Naperville Park District, and the district charges one permit rate across all seven of its off leash areas. The figures in the video are the DuPage resident rates. Because Naperville sits in both DuPage and Will counties, some Naperville households pay the non-resident rate, so it is worth checking which one applies before buying.
| Permit | DuPage resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Daily, per dog | $12 | $20 |
| Annual, first dog | $60 ($30 after Sept. 1) | $170 ($85 after Sept. 1) |
| Annual, each additional dog | $15 | $35 |
The veteran benefit in the video is real, with one detail worth adding. The district offers one free annual permit per household per calendar year to honorably discharged U.S. veterans, active military personnel, and people 65 or older. First-time applicants have to show proof of age or service, such as a DD-214 Member 4 form. A veteran with a second dog still pays the additional-dog rate. Details and the permit application are on the district’s Dogs in the Preserves page.
Video Transcript
“What is the annual membership here at the Springbrook Prairie for the dog park?”
“Actually, for Springbrook, it’s $12 a day or $60 a year. And guess what? If you’re a veteran, it’s absolutely free.”
Springbrook Prairie’s off leash area covers a fenced 37 acres on the north side of 83rd Street, west of Book Road. It opens at 10 a.m. on Thursdays after routine maintenance and follows regular preserve hours the rest of the week. Dogs need to be at least four months old and current on distemper, parvo, and rabies vaccinations, and handlers can bring up to three dogs at a time.
Read the full guide to dog parks and dog-friendly spots in Naperville →
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