"As a result of the Dept. closing the water feature at the dog park at Broemmelsiek, the Parks Dept. is discussing proceeding with engineering and design for the Sun Dusk Park Preserve in The Park at New Melle Lakes for the retriever training dog park."
That sentence comes from the minutes of the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Park Advisory Board meeting on October 8, 2025. It's buried between an update on roof work at Lindenwood Park and a question about camping at New Melle. The county's public announcement came almost a year later, on September 1, 2026. It described Sundust Preserve as what will be the biggest dog park in Missouri, with about 50 acres where dogs can run off-leash. The announcement doesn't mention the pond at Broemmelsiek. The minutes connect the two.
For anyone in Wentzville with a dog, that connection matters more than the headline. The off-leash options closest to home are fenced, open areas that the county closes on wet days, and the one spot with water for dogs was reported closed at that October 2025 meeting. Sundust is the county's plan to build something different.
The Pond the Brochure Still Promises
St. Charles County Parks' off-leash brochure still describes the 4.7-acre off-leash area at Broemmelsiek Park as having a covered shelter, a grove of shade trees, and "a small pond where your dogs can splash and play." The park is at 1795 Highway DD in Defiance, and the dog area sits off Canine Drive near Schwede Road.
The October 2025 minutes say the department closed the water feature at that dog park. We didn't find a later notice saying it reopened. We also couldn't confirm what the county's dog park web pages say right now, because they didn't load when we checked. If water is the reason your dog loves Broemmelsiek, call the parks department at 636-949-7535 before you go.
The shelter, the shade trees, and the size are still there. At 4.7 acres, Broemmelsiek's off-leash area is almost twice as big as the one at Quail Ridge. The brochure doesn't describe a separate area for small dogs at Broemmelsiek, and that difference matters if you have a small dog.
Quail Ridge Carries the Daily Load
Quail Ridge Park, at 560 Interstate Drive, is the county off-leash area inside Wentzville itself. Its off-leash area covers 2.5 acres and is split into separate sections for large and small dogs. It has a covered shelter, and water is available near the parking lot.
Quail Ridge has had its own water project. The same October 2025 minutes report that the restoration of the park's lake was complete, and the parks staff said it "will be beautiful once the lake is filled up." That's the park's lake, not part of the dog area. It does make the paved loop more appealing for an on-leash walk after your dog has run.
The county uses that loop for a free program called Lights and Leashes. It's a ranger-led night hike of about 1.5 miles on paved, wheelchair-accessible trails. Dogs stay leashed, and glow sticks are encouraged. The Quail Ridge date is Monday, October 26, 2026, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and you have to register in advance. You don't need a dog to join. The next one is on Tuesday, November 24, from 5 to 6 p.m. at Oglesby Park.
The rules are the same at both county off-leash areas. They're free to use, but dogs must be licensed and have up-to-date vaccinations, and you should be ready to show proof when you arrive. Each person can bring up to three dogs. A 2020 county notice listed the hours as 7 a.m. until 30 minutes after sunset.
Wet Ground Closes Both Fences
Fenced, open lawns have a known weakness. The county's brochure says the parks department sometimes has to close the off-leash areas at Quail Ridge and Broemmelsiek when conditions are wet, to keep the turf from being damaged. The paved paths stay open for leashed walks during those closures unless the county says otherwise.
Both off-leash areas near Wentzville work the same way, so a rainy week can close them at the same time. Before you load the dogs into the car after a storm:
- Check the county's status line on Rainout Line at 636-707-0011, which also offers email and text alerts and a phone app.
- The older brochure lists 636-949-7475 for closures. Use the Rainout Line number first, since the brochure is undated.
- Bring proof of your dog's license and vaccinations, because staff can ask for it at the gate.
- If the fences are closed, use the paved loop on leash. That's still allowed during wet-weather closures unless the county posts otherwise.
What 68 Acres Off Holt Road Is Meant to Fix
Sundust Preserve will sit north of New Melle on 68 acres donated to the county by the late Mary and David Wolk, a Glendale couple who used the property to train golden retrievers. Mid Rivers Newsmagazine puts the donation at about 67 acres. Its reporting places the land next to The Park at New Melle Lakes, 400 Foristell Road, with a new entrance and parking area planned off Holt Road. According to Peter VanLinn, assistant director of the county's Parks & Recreation Department, the donation required that at least part of the land become a dog park and that it carry the name Sundust Preserve.
The design is a different idea from the fenced lawns at Quail Ridge and Broemmelsiek. Parks Director Ryan Graham told the county newsletter there will be trails, lakes, and play equipment for dogs such as ramps and tunnels. "You'll be able to take your dog for a hike through the woods," he said. VanLinn described who the design is for:
"We're trying to create a unique experience for dog owners in that traditional dog parks are pretty much open, mowed, you can see every inch of it. This is something where, if you're a trail runner, and you would like to go running with your dog off leash, there will be trails through the 67 acres that you could do that on."
The plans include fencing, wooded off-leash areas, and some traditional mowed areas. The county is still deciding whether to build separate sections for big and small dogs. VanLinn said the park will be big enough to find a quiet corner if you're training a dog and want to avoid distractions from other dogs.
The money has already been approved. The County Council approved a design contract with an Iowa firm in August. The county newsletter puts it at $146,000, and Mid Rivers names the firm as Shive-Hattery at $146,500. Graham said construction could start as soon as this winter, beginning with tree clearing to open up space, and the park could open as soon as late 2027. VanLinn gave Mid Rivers a slightly wider window of late 2027 or early 2028.
That's at least a year of fall and spring weather before it opens, using the parks that exist today.
Filling the Gap Until Then
When Quail Ridge is closed or crowded, two other places are worth knowing.
Veterans Tribute Park, at 1031 Kisker Road in Weldon Spring, has a 3-acre county dog area. The playground there is scheduled to be rebuilt because of drainage problems, which is work across the park rather than at the dog area. The brochure's wet-weather closure language names only Quail Ridge and Broemmelsiek, so check Rainout Line for Veterans Tribute too.
Don Yarber Bark Park at Legacy Park, 5490 Fifth Street in Cottleville, is run by the city rather than the county. It has a separate section for small dogs and puppies plus a one-acre area for large dogs. Cottleville's rules set the hours at sunrise to sunset, and the city closes the park when it's muddy, so it doesn't escape the wet-weather problem either.
Two dog-related events are coming up this month. On Saturday, October 10, from 5 to 7 p.m., the St. Charles County Pet Adoption Center at 4850 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters hosts the Howl and Haunt Trunk-or-Treat, with treats for pets as well. Then there's the Lights and Leashes hike at Quail Ridge on October 26.
The adoption center is also getting a western location. In August, the County Council approved $215,000 for civil engineering and $927,000 for architectural and engineering work on Pet Adoption Center West. It would be built on the grounds of the National Equestrian Center park, 6880 Lake Saint Louis Boulevard. The St. Peters center was built in 1999, holds up to 50 adult dogs, and keeps 30 to 50 more in foster homes at any time. "We run a great shelter now, but we are bursting at the seams and need more space," said Katie Willis, Division Director of Humane Services.
So both county dog projects are moving west at about the same pace. One is a new shelter for dogs waiting to be adopted, and the other, off Holt Road, is a park for the dogs that already live here.
Our team at Cheri Norton lives and works in western St. Charles County, and we'll share updates on Sundust Preserve as the county posts construction dates. If your next move needs a fenced yard or a short walk to Quail Ridge, ask us for a free home valuation and we'll show you how your current home could get you there.
