Dogs in New York City Parks
You and your dog are welcome in New York City parks! There are numerous opportunities to enjoy the outdoors with your dog. Just remember to be safe, obey the rules, and respect the park and others.
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| The Parks Department’s long-standing "courtesy hours" are now a formal part of the Park Rules and Regulations. The policy states that with proof of current dog license and rabies vaccination, owners can allow dogs to run off-leash in certain designated areas from the time the park opens until 9 a.m. AND from 9 p.m. until the park closes. |
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| This guide outlines rules and suggestions, so that all New Yorkers can enjoy our nearly 29,000 acres of parkland. |
Where to Go With Your Dog
There are four designations for areas within parkland.
No dogs allowed: Dogs are not permitted in these areas at any time. These areas include playgrounds, zoos, swimming pools/facilities, bathing areas/beaches*, fountains, ballfields, or on basketball/handball/tennis courts.
Dogs must be on leash at all times: Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times when in these areas.
Dog Runs: Dog runs are large, fenced-in areas for dogs to exercise unleashed. Created with the expertise of a Parks Department landscape architect and volunteers, the runs encourage play while supplying good drainage, safe lighting, and healthy plantings.
Designated Off-Leash Areas: Certain park areas allow dogs to be off-leash from the time the park opens until 9 a.m. AND from 9 p.m. until the park closes. Dog owners/attendants with dogs off-leash in these designated areas must obey all general rules, including having their dog under control at all times, licensing the dog, and carrying proof of the dog's rabies vaccination. Parks that contain designated off-leash areas are listed by borough below.
| Bronx Dog Runs | Address |
| Ewen Park |  Riverdale to Johnson Aves.South of West 232nd St. |
| Frank S. Hackett Park | Riverdale Ave. and W 254th St. |
| Pelham Bay Park | Middletown Rd. & Stadium Ave., Northwest of Parking Lot |
| Seton Park | West 232nd St. & Independence Ave |
| Van Cortlandt Park | West 251St. Street & Broadway |
| Williamsbridge Oval | 3225 Reservoir Oval East |
| Bronx Parks with Designated Off-Leash Areas | |
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| Brooklyn Dog Runs | Address |
| Brooklyn Bridge Park |
Adams St. and N/S Plymouth St. |
| Cooper Park |
Olive St. and Maspeth Ave. |
| DiMattina Park |
Hicks, Coles and Woodhull St. |
| Dyker Beach Park |
7th Ave. and 86th St. |
| Hillside Park |
Columbia Heights & Vine St. |
| J J Byrne Memorial Park |
3rd to 4th Sts., 4th to 5th Aves. |
| Manhattan Beach |
East of Ocean Ave., North Shore Rockaway inlet |
| McCarren Park |
North 12th St, Driggs Ave and Union Ave. |
| McGolrick Park |
North Henry St. and Driggs Ave. |
| Owls Head Park |
68th St. and Shore Road |
| Palmetto Playground |
Atlantic Ave., Furman, Columbia, State Sts. |
| Brooklyn Parks with Designated Off-Leash Areas | |
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| Manhattan Dog Runs | Address |
| Carl Schurz Park (2 runs) | East End Ave. To East River from Gracie Square (East 84th St.) To 89th St. |
| 11th Ave and 22nd Street. |
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| Coleman Oval Park | Pike and Monroe Sts. |
| DeWitt Clinton Park | West 52nd & West 54th St., between 10th & 11th Aves. |
| Fish Bridge Park | Dover St. between Pearl & Water St. |
| Fort Tryon Park | Margaret Corbin Drive, Washington Heights |
| Highbridge Park | Amsterdam and Fort George Aves. |
| Hudson River Park (Greenwich Village) |
Leroy St. at the northeast corner of Pier 40 |
| Hudson River Park (North Chelsea) |
Pier 84 at W. 44th St |
| J. Hood Wright | Fort Washington & Haven Aves., West 173rd St. |
| Inwood Hill Park | |
| Madison Square Park | Madison Ave. To 5th Ave. between East 23rd St. & East 26th St. |
| Marcus Garvey Park | Madison Ave. and East 120th St. |
| Morningside Park | Morningside Ave. between 114th and 119th Sts. |
| Peter Detmold Park | West of FDR Dr., between East 49th & East 51st Sts. |
| Riverside Park (3 runs) |
Riverside Dr. at West 72nd, West 87th, West 105th |
| Robert Moses Park | 41st & 42nd Sts. At 1st Ave. |
| St. Nicholas Park | St Nicholas Ave. to St Nicholas Terrace, W 128th to W 141 St. |
| Theodore Roosevelt Park | Central Park West at West 81st St. |
| Thomas Jefferson Park | East 112th St. and FDR Drive |
| Tompkins Square Park | 1st Ave. To Ave. B, from East 7th to East 10th Sts. |
| Washington Square Park | 5th Ave., Waverly Place, West 4th St., between McDougal & Thompson Sts., south side of the park (behind building) |
| Union Square Dog Run | 15th St. & Union Sq West |
| Manhattan Parks with Designated Off-Leash Areas | |
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| Queens Dog Runs | Address | |
| Cunningham Park | 193rd St. between Aberdeen Road & Radnor Road |
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| K-9 Dog Run (Forest Park) (open 8AM-8PM, seven days a week) |
Park Lane South and 85th St. Forest Park, Queens |
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| Little Bay Dog Run | Cross Island Parkway between Clearview Expressway and Utopia Parkway |
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| Murray Playground | 21st Ave. & 45th Road (southeastern side of the park) |
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| Rockaway Freeway Dog Park | Rockaway Freeway and B. 84th Street |
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| Sherry Park | Queens Boulevard, 65 Place and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway |
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| Underbridge Dog Run | 64 Ave./ 64 Road on Grand Central Parkway service road |
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| Veteran's Grove | Judge St. & Whitney Ave. (south side of Park) |
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| Windmuller Park (Doughboy Plaza) | Woodside Ave., 54-56 Sts. |
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| Queens Parks with Designated Off-Leash Areas | ||
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| Staten Island Dog Runs | Address |
| Silver Lake Park |
Victory Boulevard below the pavilion, across from the Parkview Apartments |
| Wolfe's Pond Park Dog Run |
End of Huguenot & Chester Aves. |
| Staten Island Parks with Designated Off-Leash Areas | |
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Obey the Rules and Regulations
- Dogs must be on a leash (no more than six feet long) at all times, except in dog runs and designated off-leash areas at prescribed times.
- You must pick up after your dog and dispose of the waste in containers provided throughout the park.
- You must prevent your dog from chasing birds, squirrels, and other animals.
- Dogs are never allowed in playgrounds, zoos, swimming pools/facilities, bathing areas/beaches*, fountains, ballfields, or on basketball/handball/tennis courts.
*In the off-season, the Commissioner may use his discretion to permit dogs in bathing areas/beaches.
No dogs are allowed on the sand at all New York City beaches. Leashed dogs are allowed on the boardwalk/promenade at Coney Island, Brighton, Midland, South, and Manhattan Beaches.
Respect the Park and Others
Keep an eye on your dog at all times. Only you are responsible for your dog’s actions. Please remember that other park visitors may be afraid of your dog. Do not allow your dog to run and jump on other people or dogs without an invitation.
Do not allow your dog to drink from Park fountains, unless a special dog fountain is provided.
Be good to the grass. Heavy use in a given area compacts soil and damages the turf. Keep walking – you’ll see more and do less damage.
Please keep off wet grass. During and after a rainfall, topsoil is 20 times more vulnerable to compaction.
Rabies Vaccination and Dog Licensing
IT’S THE LAW. New York State law requires that dogs be vaccinated against rabies, and the New York City Health Code requires every dog owner/attendant carry with them proof of current dog license and rabies vaccination while in public. Dog owners may be fined for violation of these laws. To obtain an application for a dog license, contact the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene or call 311. You may also obtain an application from a veterinarian, animal shelter, or pet shop.
Resources
Keep your dog healthy and happy. Take your dog to a veterinarian for annual physical exams and innoculations against rabies and other diseases.
• To report a problem or make suggestions, call 311.
City Dog Groups
Video