3 Must-See New York City Dog Runs
Sure, most New Yorkers don’t have the living space necessary for their dogs to run wild, but with the entire city as their backyard, they are never without animal-friendly areas like dog parks and playgrounds. In these places, dogs are free to roam without leashes in a carefree environment specifically designed for them. And more importantly, dog owners are free to get some (much-needed) time to sit back and relax.
As a native New Yorker, I am all over Manhattan; Needless to say, an unlimited metro card is a necessity for me. When I’m not in school, I love to divide my time equally between New York City’s many parks and just take in all the breathtaking sights. While Central Park tends to be a go-to (for obvious reasons), I make sure to devote some attention to the city’s smaller parks like Madison Square Park, Tompkins Square Park, and Union Square Park. In addition to these parks being full of playgrounds, plant life, and exciting activities, they each all have their own designated off-leash areas that exist to encourage your pets to get their required exercise while having a ball (and perhaps fetching one or two as well). So the next time you take your pooch on an outing, pay a visit to these three must-see New York City dog runs!
Broadway, New York, NY 10010
Voted one of New York City’s “top dog runs” by CBS News New York, Jemmy’s Dog Run, located in Madison Square Park, is a neighborhood favorite for local dog owners. The design of Jemmy’s Dog Run is very minimalist, with plenty of benches, a gravel ground, free doggy waste bags, and a small water hose for the dogs’ use. But perhaps the most important of all, the charming dog run is super spacious, which means the dogs can do what they love most: run free and play.
Jemmy’s Dog Run is open Monday through Sunday from 6:00 am to midnight ET.
500 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10019
Tompkins Square Park in the mid-1980s was a truly different park than the one that exists today, unsafe and ravaged by the crime and drug abuse tormenting New York City at the time. And in 1990, when Tompkins Square Park was granted a long overdue renovation, Tompkins Square Dog Run, not only New York City’s largest dog run, but also New York City’s very first dog run, was born! The dog run is now thriving, with picnic tables, a modern running surface made from decompressed granite sand, hoses to clean off your dog, bone-shaped bathing pools, and even its own underground drainage system!
Tompkins Square Dog Run is open Monday through Sunday from 6:00 am to midnight ET.
New York, NY 10003
Nearly constant;y populated with protesters carrying handmade signs, street performers, musicians, chess whizzes, and people offering free hugs, Union Square Park is one of the most active areas in New York City. And this activity extends to pets, with the Union Square Dog Run attracting dogs from all over the Lower West Side. A bit on the smaller scale as far as dog runs go, the Union Square Dog Run in an intimate but welcoming setting for you and your dog.
Union Square Dog Run is open Monday through Sunday from 6:00 am to midnight ET.
This article was previously published on Apartments.com on December 17th, 2014.
