ABOUT
The story of Pilgrim Bark Park is a testament to determination and community spirit. Its creation and development has a rich history.
Vision and Mission
VISION
Our vision is to sustain and improve a dog park where dogs can run free and socialize. A park to promote animal welfare. A park that is environmentally conscious, provides a venue for the arts, and is a welcoming community space for all of our residents and visitors.
MISSION
Our mission is to attend to the ongoing maintenance and improvements of the dog park, provide a clean and safe playground for dogs and their owners, and be an amenity for tourists traveling with their dogs.
It is recorded that in addition to the Pilgrims, an English Mastiff and English Springer Spaniel were aboard the Mayflower when it landed in Provincetown on November 11, 1620. We have named our dog park Pilgrim Bark Park to remember those first canine explorers of Cape Cod.
In The Media
Pilgrim Bark Park often draws media attention due to its design, celebration of the culture and arts of Provincetown, and location on Cape Cod.
Vacation Idea, the online Dream Vacation Magazine: “If you’re looking for a fun day out with your dog, this is a great place to be.” See Pilgrim Bark Park – Top Dog Park in Provincetown (2023)
Recreation Management highlights the story of the development of Pilgrim Bark Park in their article, Dog Day Afternoons: Building Your Dog Park, From Start to Finish (2018)
HGTV selected Pilgrim Bark Park as one of 10 Ideas You’ve Got to Add to Your Dog's Bucket List (2018)
Provincetown Community Television (PTV) created an informative video about the park with an interview with founder Deborah Grabler and dog families (2017)
American Towns Media called us “one of the most visually interesting parks in America” in their 10 amazing Dog Parks guaranteed to make any pooch’s day! (2016)
VetStreet.com featured Pilgrim Bark Park in 10 of the Coolest Dog Parks Across the U.S. (2016)
Dog Fancy Magazine cited us as the second best dog park in the country (2010)
If you come across a mention of Pilgrim Bark Park, would you please let us know? Thanks!
Creating Pilgrim Bark Park
In 2008, The Provincetown Dog Park Association, Inc. broke ground on the unbuildable parcel the Town generously provided at the corner of Route 6 and Shank Painter Road.
Finished in 2009, Pilgrim Bark Park is now a gated, off-leash recreational space in Provincetown for its residents, visitors and their dogs.
Many members of the community (and beyond) gave and continue to give unselfishly of their time, energy, and resources to make and keep the park a vital reality.
Daily, it creates happy new memories for those who enter: from a lucky dog’s happy playdate to the first wedding ever officiated in Pilgrim Bark Park.
A small sampling of images from our archives
Town approval, 2007Park founders breaking ground, September 2008First wedding at Pilgrim Bark Park, 2017White line woodcut by Sally Brophy, 2010Bench installation, 2022