Riley plays with his German shepherd, Legend, at the Off the Leash Dog Park in Yuba City in 2025, while his mother, Stephanie, looks on. The park, the region’s only off-leash dog park, has since closed after nearly 20 years of operation. Photo by Shamaya Sutton

 

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - The Yuba-Sutter region’s only off-leash dog park has officially announced its closure, though new details reveal differing timelines between the nonprofit board and Caltrans officials, raising questions about what happens next for the long-standing community space.

The Yuba-Sutter Off the Leash Dog Park board shared a public notice on March 29 stating it will stop maintaining the park effective March 31, marking what many residents view as its official closure after nearly 20 years of operation. However, according to Caltrans, which owns the property at 2050 Wild River Drive, the nonprofit has until later in the spring to vacate the site.

“The ‘Off the Leash Dog Park’ received a 60-day notice to vacate on April 1, which would put their final date to return the property at May 31,” said Megan Reese, public information officer for Caltrans District 3. “That would make June 1 the first day of marketing the property, with an estimated auction in late July, if all schedules go as planned.”

The timeline differs from the one referenced in the dog park’s public notice, which cited an April 10 date tied to the land being auctioned. In a follow-up response, the dog park board said that date reflected information previously provided by Caltrans.

While the official vacate date extends into late May, the board indicated it can no longer sustain operations through that period. The organization will retain its lease through the end of April to remove equipment such as benches and trash receptacles but will no longer maintain the park after March 31.

Despite the closure, the board confirmed the park’s gates will remain unlocked, allowing the public to continue accessing the space informally. Without maintenance or oversight, however, the long-term usability and safety of the park remain uncertain.

The five-acre site sits within a larger 30-acre parcel originally purchased by Caltrans in 1993 for a proposed “third bridge” project connecting south Yuba City to Olivehurst. That project was later abandoned and the land has since been designated as excess property slated for sale.

For years, the nonprofit dog park operated on the land under a low-cost lease, providing a rare off-leash space for local dog owners. But recent changes to state policy required the organization to transition to fair market rent, significantly increasing its financial burden. Donna Johnston, a longtime board member and Sutter County’s elected clerk-recorder/registrar of voters and ex-officio clerk of the Board of Supervisors, previously said the organization had been exploring fundraising options and alternative sites but had not secured a viable path forward.

The closure leaves a significant gap in the region, where no other dedicated off-leash dog park currently exists. For many pet owners, the site has served as more than just a convenience. It has been a critical resource for dogs that require a safe, enclosed environment to exercise and socialize.

As Caltrans moves forward with plans to market and eventually auction the property, the future of the space remains unclear and the community is left without a confirmed replacement.