Dog Park detective: Egan Park in Plymouth

The Day: May 13, a blustery grey 52 degrees

The Dog: Enzo, a Nova Scotian Duck Tolling Retriever (“Toller” for short)

The Park: Egan Park, off 47 between Dunkirk and Lawndale in Plymouth

The Amenities: Paved parking lot, outhouse at entrance, garbage cans (only at entrance), shaded gazebos and benches for humans

Sidewalk Dog Editor’s Note: This six-part series celebrates some of the Twin Cities finest dog parks just in time for summer. If your favorite park didn’t make it this year, review your top spot in our directory so we can feature it in 2015.

The Egan Park in Plymouth is a wonderful gem off of Highway 47, tucked away between marshland and private property–but because it’s not fenced, only dogs with rock-solid recall skills should try their luck. Your journey from the parking lot to the park begins with an adorable bridge over marshland (keep your dog leashed ’til you reach the far side) and then picks up with an astroturf path that leads to the park’s main area.

The main area is full of agility tests for your pooch to try out: tunnels to zip through, tiny mountains to climb, literal hoops to jump through, flexible poles for zigzagging between. If you’re trying to get your dog to learn some new tricks or just tucker himself out with a climbing-jumping-bobbing-and-weaving helluva time, you won’t want to miss this place.

Even the small dog area has some agility fun! This area is designated for dogs weighing less than 20 pounds and, unlike the rest of Egan Park, is fully fenced. There are plenty of benches and picnic tables for humans to sit on while their dogs frolic (while keeping a watchful eye, of course), and even a shaded blue gazebo if you’re looking for a little shade.

While the astroturf will help your dog stay dry and mud-free, dogs can always find a way to get filthy. But despair not: there’s a brilliant little washtub on site. It uses the ingenious combination of rain water and gravity to help you give your pooch’s paws a quick rinse before you head for the car. It even comes with straps to make sure your pup doesn’t scamper off mid-wash.

We can’t pretend that the grassy area for romping is huge, especially compared to Battle Creek, Carver Park Reserve, or even Minnehaha, but the area that does exist is pretty nice: plenty of tall grass, some recently mowed walking paths for two-leggers, and even trees for your dog to claim as his own again and again. (There’s even a festively painted fire hydrant in the middle of the field for just that purpose.)

So what do you need to know before going?