🐾 About USA Dog Parks
The story behind America's most trusted, human-verified dog park guide
Hi, I'm Crystal Yifei Liu
I spent over two decades building some of the most trusted platforms on the internet — from Google's early AdWords system to Amazon's global Associates platform. Today, I bring that same rigor to finding and reviewing the best off-leash dog parks in America.
I started USA Dog Parks because I believe finding a safe, clean, fun place for your dog shouldn't depend on a random Google Maps pin. Every park we feature has been visited or vetted by a real person who cares as much about dogs as you do.
My Journey
Google · Engineer #37
Joined Google when it was a small startup in Mountain View. Helped build the early AdWords quality scoring system — the engine that would become one of the world's most profitable advertising platforms. Learned that trust and relevance are the only things that matter online.
Amazon · Global Associates Architect
Led the technical architecture for Amazon's global affiliate marketing platform. Expanded the program from the US to over a dozen countries, and helped transition the commission system from fixed rates to dynamic bidding. Saw firsthand how honest, detailed content drives conversions better than any algorithm.
PartnerStack · CTO & Co-Founder
Built one of the first recurring commission tracking engines for SaaS affiliate programs. Learned the power of recurring revenue — a lesson I now apply to every piece of content on USA Dog Parks.
USA Dog Parks · Founder
Combining my love for dogs with my expertise in building trusted platforms. I've personally visited over 200 dog parks across 30+ states, and I created the DP Score™ system to give dog owners a transparent, standardized way to compare parks.
🏅 What Is the DP Score™?
The DP Score is our proprietary 10-point rating system designed specifically for off-leash dog parks. Most review sites give you a single star rating and a vague description. We break down every park across 10 dimensions that actually matter to dog owners:
- Fence Quality — How secure is the perimeter? Any gaps?
- Cleanliness — Are there waste bags available? Is the park well-maintained?
- Small Dog Friendliness — Is there a separate area for small or shy dogs?
- Water Access — Are there working fountains? Do you need to bring your own?
- Shade & Shelter — Is there protection from sun and rain?
- Parking Convenience — Is there a dedicated lot? How far is the walk?
- Crowd Management — Does the park get overcrowded? When is it calmest?
- Surface Condition — Grass, dirt, mud? Is your dog coming home clean or caked in mud?
- Scenic Beauty — Because a beautiful walk makes everything better.
- Overall Vibe — The intangible feel of the park and its community.
🔍 How We Verify Parks
Every park we list goes through our three-step verification process. We never aggregate from random directories or scrape Google Maps.
- Step 1: Initial Research — We gather public data from park websites, local government pages, and recent visitor reviews. We flag any parks with conflicting or outdated information.
- Step 2: Personal Visit or Community Vetting — Ideally, we visit the park ourselves. For parks we can't reach immediately, we work with trusted local contributors who use our standardized DP Score checklist. Every contributor is vetted by our team.
- Step 3: Ongoing Updates — We re-verify parks at least once a year. Every park page shows its last verification date. If you notice something that's changed, you can submit an update — and we'll credit you.
💡 Affiliate Disclosure
USA Dog Parks participates in the Amazon Associates program and other affiliate networks. This means we may earn a small commission when you purchase products through our links — at no extra cost to you.
I designed Amazon's affiliate tracking system. I know exactly how commissions work. And I promise: we only recommend gear we've personally tested. Our editorial integrity is not for sale.