DOG-FRIENDLY PARKS IN MESA, AZ

Arizona's third-largest city sits in the Sonoran Desert, where winter highs reach the 70s and summer temperatures regularly exceed 105°F. This sprawling suburb of Phoenix has grown from 16,000 residents in 1950 to over 500,000 today, with young families drawn to affordable housing and outdoor recreation. The Salt River marks the northern boundary, while the Superstition Mountains rise to the east. Mesa's low humidity and abundant sunshine make year-round outdoor activity possible, though summer mornings are best for exercise. The city's flat terrain and grid layout make navigation straightforward.