There are 3 popular bumper stickers in Ithaca:
“Ithaca: 10 square miles surrounded by reality.” The town is known for its progressive politics.
“Ithaca is gorges.” We’ve got dozens of waterfalls here in Tompkins County.
“Take Me Out To the Dog Park.”
If dogs in Ithaca could talk, that’s surely what they would say!
A fenced 4.8 acre fenced play area for our 4-legged friends lies at the north end of Cass Park . It is one of the largest, best equipped and well-run dog parks in the country. It boasts gravel paths for us 2-legs to use in muddy weather, a water fountain for people and another for dogs. In the summer, wading pools magically appear, allowing dogs to cool themselves.
There are picnic tables and comfortable Adirondack chairs for use, and grills nearby for those who want to enjoy the park during the summer. A short walk away is a small beach from which dogs can swim in Cayuga Lake.
Owners of small dogs and puppies appreciate the fact there is a separate, fenced area for their petite canine friends.
The park is maintained by the not-for-profit group of volunteers who form the 501-C organization, Tompkins County Dog Owners. Known as ‘TCDog,’ the group lobbied local government for a decade to get the park established. They’ve taken organization to a new level by providing composting bags for dog waste.
An interesting fact about Ithaca’s dog park is that thanks to the progressive members of TCDog, a waste composting project has been underway for the past two years. Dog owners use compostable bags to collect their pup’s waste, & place it in bins. These are trucked off the a local composting company and is turned into compost.
There are caveats if you opt to bring Fido or Fifi to the dog park. Because of the two colleges in town, Ithaca is an itinerant community. People move in and out — and many of them bring their dogs to the park for recreation and socialization. Many of these do not know (or perhaps do not care about) the rules of the park which specify that dogs must be spayed or neutered.
Dogs are supposed to be under their owners control at all times — during high volume periods such as before and after the work day and mid morning to mid-afternoon on weekends — the chances that an unsocial or un-socialized dog will be let into the mix increase quantum fold. A local vet is fond of saying “I have a love-hate relationship with that park. I love it because it pays my mortgage and has put my kids through college. I hate it because some dog owners are flat out irresponsible.”
Most are responsible, however. And there is always the option of taking your pooch for an outing to the Ithaca Dog Park on off-hours.
The park is within yards of paved walking/running trails, the lake and a marina. Further flung you’ll find waterfalls, wineries and excellent restaurants well as Cornell University and Ithaca College.
Location: The north end of Cass Park (State Route 89N) behind the Hangar Theater, on The Festival Lands at the south end of Cayuga Lake.
