Midland's Two Dog Parks Sit Inside Hogan and Beal

If you've got a dog and a small yard, or an apartment and none, Midland gives you two fenced places to let it run. The bigger one is Hogan's Run, five fenced acres inside Hogan Park at 1201 E. Wadley Avenue. It's set up the way a good dog park should be, with a separate yard for small dogs and another for the big ones, so a nervous Chihuahua isn't sharing space with a pack of Labs. There's agility equipment, shade, drinking water, and restrooms for the humans.

The second is Waggin' Trail Beal Dog Park, tucked into Beal Park at 5200 West Wall Street on the other side of town, handy if you're west of Loop 250.

Shade and water matter more here than most places. A July afternoon in Midland will cook a dog fast, so the early-morning and after-supper hours are when the regulars show up. Bring your own bowl and keep the visit short when the heat's up.