Your Neighborhood at a Glance: Best Pet-Friendly Parks

Your pet is a huge part of your life, your pet is family. So, why shouldn’t your pet love NYC as much as you do? Well, New York City can be a very pet-friendly place, as long as you know the proper pet etiquette, the rules and regulations, and all the great areas and neighborhoods of the city that welcome and encourage pets. That’s where we come in to help.

We’ve spoken with our resident resource in this area, Halstead Property Executive Vice President, Elaine Tross.  Elaine specializes in pet-friendly real estate knowledge and options and has over 20+ years experience in real estate. Her insight into the subject of owning a pet in New York City is invaluable for pet owners who want their city experience to include their beloved pet. There’s more than 29,000 acres of park land in NYC, and much of it welcomes your pet. As Elaine puts it, “NYC is a fun place as you meet other pet owners and visit all the pet-friendly parks and areas. The interactions are always warm and welcoming. My little Maltese, Max, absolutely loves his play time with other dogs in the parks, it makes him so happy.” Elaine is also currently working on her website to include eating establishments and sidewalk cafés that allow dogs.

Elaine has given us a full list of her favorite pet-friendly parks in the different areas of Manhattan.

East Side:

Central Park – Has off-leash hours where signs are posted from 9am-9pm. There is also a Central Park Conservancy organization called PAWS which meets every month over bagels. As Elaine says, “Personally, I love The Central Park Conservancy, which I support. Their support has helped with loosening up the rules and opening up of the parks for dog owners throughout the City.” Bring your dog to the Balto Dog Monument!

Carl Shurz Park – Great view of the water and many secluded areas for you and your pet.

West Side:

Riverside Park – Fabulous view of the Hudson River and beautiful, serene gardens.

Hudson River Park, North Chelsea Dog Run – Fantastic off-leash dog run.

Margaret Mead Park/Theodore Roosevelt Park – Designated areas for leashed, off-leash, and runs.

East Village:

Tompkins Square Park Dog Run – You and your dog can enjoy some live music!

Greenwich Village:

Union Square Dog Run – Extremely friendly and safe.

Washington Square Park Dog Run – Great area to walk around with your dog before bringing them inside the park.

TriBeCa:

PS 234 Dog Run – Beautiful private dog run.

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Bridge Park Dog Run – Two dog runs in Brooklyn Bridge Park, both very welcoming.

McKinley Park Dog Run – Great for small and big dogs alike.

Here are some great parks that welcome pets outside of NYC.

Hoboken, New Jersey

The Hoboken Dog Association has a full list of every park in the town that welcomes dogs.

Fairfield County, Connecticut

Here’s a list of the best dog parks and hikes in the towns of Fairfield County, Connecticut.

East Hampton, NY

The Hamptons are extremely pet friendly. Here’s a list of fabulous things to do with your pet.