Chewy Bark Park launches monthly ‘Pack Walk’ along The Underline

Four dogs sit on artificial turf beneath a large tree at Chewy Bark Park, with buildings visible in the background.

Dogs gather at Chewy Bark Park along The Underline, where a new monthly Pack Walk will bring owners and their pets together for a guided social walk beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 26. (Photo courtesy of Chewy).

By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Chewy Bark Park, the Coral Gables dog park that opened along The Underline earlier this year, is launching a monthly social walk designed to bring together dogs and the people holding their leashes.

The inaugural Chewy Pack Walk takes place Wednesday, Aug. 26, timed to National Dog Day, with organizers planning to repeat the event monthly.

The evening runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., starting and ending at the park with a guided group walk along The Underline in between. Admission is free, with advance registration encouraged through Eventbrite.

A walk designed for dogs and their people

Rather than a simple group stroll, organizers have built the Pack Walk around structured mingling.

Participants will rotate walking partners every few minutes over the course of the route, with conversation prompts designed to make introductions easier among strangers brought together by their dogs.

The evening begins with a half-hour check-in and social period before the walk gets underway. Participants will return to Chewy Bark Park afterward for refreshments, giveaways and photo opportunities.

The event will also have an adoption component. Paw Patrol Animal Rescue and Sanctuary plans to bring three adoptable dogs, while Chewy is covering adoption fees for select dogs as part of the company’s “Dog-ust” promotion.

Among the dogs scheduled to attend is Karri, a 3-year-old English bulldog described by the rescue as sweet and playful despite a difficult past that included significant medical care.

A new park with a fast start

Chewy Bark Park opened Jan. 31 with a ribbon-cutting that drew more than 500 attendees, according to local coverage of the event.

The 17,000-square-foot park was funded by the City of Coral Gables and built in partnership with Friends of The Underline. Chewy holds naming rights and sponsors ongoing programming rather than having funded construction itself. It was the pet retailer’s first dog park.

Located at 4500 Ponce de Leon Blvd., near the Douglas Road Metrorail station and across from Trader Joe’s, the park includes separate play areas for small and large dogs, hydration and waste stations, cooling turf and agility elements.

It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The park is one stop along The Underline, the 10-mile linear park and trail beneath the Metrorail tracks connecting the Miami River to Dadeland South. Friends of The Underline has continued building out the project in phases through Coral Gables and neighboring communities.

The new monthly walk extends the park’s role beyond a place where owners bring their dogs to exercise, adding recurring programming intended to make it a gathering place for people as well.

Chewy Pack Walk

When: Wednesday, Aug. 26, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Chewy Bark Park at The Underline, 4500 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables
Cost: Free; RSVP encouraged through Eventbrite
What to bring: A dog comfortable around others, a non-retractable leash, water and comfortable shoes
Getting there: Parking is available at Lot 41, 4520 Ponce de Leon Blvd., and through street parking via PayByPhone. The park is also accessible from the Douglas Road Metrorail station.