The renovated Oceanfront Park Dog Park behind Marathon City Hall has 18,650 square feet of Tifway 419 Bermuda grass. It also has 2,500 square feet of artificial turf. That ratio explains how the park works now. The City chose living grass for most of the yard and laid synthetic turf only around the tree, where paws would wear real grass down to dust and mud. Living grass needs time to recover. So the gate at 9805 Overseas Highway stays locked on the first and third Monday and Tuesday of every month.
That works out to four closed days a month. For anyone who goes there regularly, the schedule matters as much as the agility course.
The grass made the renovation worth doing
The City officially reopened the park on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Mayor Lynny Del Gaizo cut the ribbon and thanked residents for their patience. "What you've noticed, when you wait, you get something beautiful," she told the crowd. Mark Tuschel, the City's Facilities and Construction Project Manager, said, "The new park is up to the standards our residents deserve."
Here is what Tuschel's team built, per the City's opening announcement:
- Tifway 419 Bermuda grass, which the City describes as soft and short enough for dogs of any size
- Permeable artificial turf ringing the tree to keep that area from turning to mud
- A pet agility area with hoops, a barrel, a table and a run course
- An extra watering bowl station
- A tiki hut for shade
- Pavers under the tiki and at the entrance
- A dog-washing station that adjusts to the size of the dog
- Reconfigured fencing and gates for easier, safer entry
- A rebuilt irrigation system designed to cover the full lawn
- More waste stations
Most of that list exists to protect the grass. The pavers keep mud off the entrance, the turf covers the area under the tree, and the irrigation reaches the whole lawn. The new dog water fountain came last. Public Works told the City Council on September 8, 2026 that it marked the final phase and that all renovations were complete.
The project cost $96,430. A Monroe County Tourist Development Council grant paid $80,291 of that, and the City's share was $16,139. Grant money covered roughly five out of every six dollars. Next door, choosing solar lighting over traditional electrical lighting for the courts next door saved the City nearly $150,000 on a project of almost $500,000. The courts opened June 29, 2026, so Oceanfront Park picked up two new facilities in about two and a half weeks.
October's closed days, worked out
The City states the schedule as a rule, not as a list of dates, so here it is applied to the calendar. In its September update, Public Works confirmed the rule stays in place "to maintain the facility and preserve the turf."
| Month | First Mon/Tue closure | Third Mon/Tue closure |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | Oct. 5 and 6 | Oct. 19 and 20 |
| November 2026 | Nov. 2 and 3 | Nov. 16 and 17 |
The City confirmed the pattern when it opened the park in July. Its announcement said the dog park would close Monday and Tuesday, July 20 and 21, which were the third Monday and Tuesday of that month.
Neither the July announcement nor the September update lists daily opening hours for the dog park. For early-morning or after-work visits, check the sign at the gate or call City Hall at 305-743-0033.
Where a dog can go on a Monday off
On closure days, it helps to know which places in town allow dogs. The City makes the starting point simple. All City parks are dog-friendly except the soccer and baseball fields at Marathon Community Park. Dogs must be leashed, and owners must pick up after them. The City's parks list includes two more dog parks besides Oceanfront: the Children's Rotary Park and Dog Park, and a separate listing called Marathon's Dog Park.
Past the City's parks, the rules change from place to place:
| Place | Dogs? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon Community Park, 200 36th Street Ocean | Yes, leashed | Open daily 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; not on the soccer or baseball fields |
| Sombrero Beach | Covered by the citywide park rule | Open 7 a.m. to dusk; the beach's own page has no separate dog rule |
| Crane Point Museum & Nature Center, 5550 Overseas Hwy | Yes, leashed and well behaved | The Hammock Trail is one of the property's nature walks |
| Pigeon Key | No pets on the island | Service dogs allowed |
| Curry Hammock State Park | Not on the beach, in the water or in bathhouses | Six-foot handheld leash where pets are allowed |
A few of these need more than a yes or no. Sombrero Beach is on the City's list of parks, so the citywide leash rule is the guidance in writing. The beach's own page talks about hours and turtle nesting, not dogs. The City lists sea turtle nesting from April through October and restricts activity near active nests, so this month some marked areas may still be roped off. To get a direct answer about dogs on the sand, call the Parks and Recreation office at 305-743-6598.
Pigeon Key's rule has a specific reason. The island runs a rehabilitation center for flightless birds, so pets stay off the island. Its FAQ makes an exception for service dogs. The FAQ does not say whether dogs are allowed on the Old Seven Mile Bridge itself, so ask Pigeon Key before heading out with a dog.
Crane Point's website welcomes pets that are well behaved and leashed. That homepage dates to 2021, so a quick call to 305-743-9100 before your first visit is reasonable.
At Curry Hammock, the beach and the water are off-limits to pets. Florida State Parks lists a 1.5-mile nature trail there but does not say on that trail's page whether dogs are allowed. If you're camping with a dog, the park requires pets to be confined inside the camping unit from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. At other times, a pet left alone at a campsite can stay for no more than 30 minutes and must be leashed or contained.
After the park
Two waterfront restaurants in town say on their own websites that they welcome pets. Burdine's Waterfront at 1200 Oceanview Avenue calls itself pet-friendly and has a dog menu. Porky's Bayside Restaurant & Marina also calls itself pet-friendly. Neither site explains where dogs can sit, so call ahead about seating.
The new dog-wash station handles a quick rinse after the agility course. For a full grooming, Sailor's Dog Spa & Boarding offers grooming in Marathon at 305-922-2191.
October dates for dog owners
The Florida Keys SPCA has three dog events this month. One of them is at Oceanfront Park.
- Wednesday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to noon. The Dogwood Wellness Clinic is at Baby's Coffee, 3180 Overseas Hwy. on Sugarloaf Key at mile marker 15. No appointment is needed, services are first-come, first-served, and a Monroe County ID is required.
- Wednesday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Banfield Vaccine Clinic is at Marathon Oceanfront Park, 9805 Overseas Hwy. Through a Banfield Foundation Community Care grant, the SPCA offers free vaccinations to pet owners who cannot afford preventive veterinary care. Pets over three months old get a rabies vaccine unless you bring proof of a current one. Bring your Monroe County ID and a non-retractable leash. Cats must be in secure carriers. The clinic falls the day after the October 19 and 20 closure.
- Sunday, Oct. 25, 2 to 4 p.m. The Howl-O-Ween Pawty is at Morning Joint, 22864 Overseas Highway in Cudjoe, and supports the SPCA's Marathon Campus. It includes a costume contest and pet photos.
The two wellness clinics ask that dogs be on non-retractable leashes.
I keep track of how Marathon's parks and shared spaces change because they shape everyday life on the island. If you'd like to know which Marathon homes are an easy walk or short drive from Oceanfront Park and its new dog park, Dan Serban is happy to walk through it with you. Contact Dan.
