Americans love their dogs. In fact, according to the Humane Society there were about seventy-eight million owned dogs in the county in 2009. Almost one in four U.S. households own at least one dog and here, in Westchester County, New York it’s a dog’s life! A friend of mine once said that when he died he wanted to return as a Labrador retriever for a well-to-do Westchester family with a large yard.
To be fair, not every household in this affluent county is replete with a large fenced in yard for Fido to romp around in. Fear not, the county now operates 11 “official” fun parks for your pet. As a dog owner that regularly lets our Great Dane tour the county parks, I have seen the good, bad and sometimes ugly side of these playgrounds.
The county dog parks are mostly one-half to two-acre fenced in bastions that allow your dog to roam off-leash while they interact with other canine friends. As an owner, you are required to follow the rules and clean up any “mess” your pooch leaves behind and monitor their playtime. Aggressive dogs are really not tolerated and need to be removed quickly. Sometimes, certain owners do not understand these rules nor do they properly manage their pets. Often, the community of owners at a specific park will enforce these rules through peer pressure. At some Parks, informal associations have formed to address issues of management and usage.
The first fenced off-leash dog park was established in Ossining in 2003. Located at the Cedar Lane Park, this park boasts three double-gated entry ports, a base of wood chips, and water fountains for the dogs and owners. The setting is bucolic in summer, with breezes washing across the park. In winter, the wind howls through the park and a shelter was constructed in 2007 to block the harsh wind. Transportation to and from the park via auto is a must.
Another fine dog park is located in the Town of Greenburgh at East Rumbrook Park which is adjacent to the Sprain Brook Parkway, the dog park has two double-gated entry’s, a dog fountain and lots of room for your pet to roam either in the small-dog section or a much larger fenced area for the “big guys” to play. One of the nicer features of this Park is the wood-chip base and the lighting for night-time runs.
A few miles to the east you will find the White Plains Bark Park. At just under one-half acre, this park located on Brockway Place adjacent to I-287, has two areas fenced-off for small and larger dogs, benches and a dog fountain. With pea-sized gravel as a base, your dog will get “dusty” during the warmer months as the base is easily loosened and kicked-up when it’s dry, a small drawback in the design.
For a couple of off-the beaten-path choices consider arriving at Rye Town Park/Oakland Beach in the early mornings to let your dog romp on the grass. All dogs must be leashed at all times, but in the early hours of the morning (before 9 am); most owners allow their dogs to run off leash. Keep in mind that this Park is not fenced so your pooch needs to be responsive to your verbal commands.
Another lesser known spot is Larchmont Beach. This is a popular area used by locals for access to the water. You cannot park anywhere near the beach, so you will have to leave park your car elsewhere (try Helena Ave.). It’s a little tough to find but when you arrive your pet will have a small fenced-in beach on Long Island Sound to play. There are no facilities like water fountains or bag dispensers to clean -up after your dog so come prepared.
These and several other options make Westchester County a dog-friendly environment for you and your pet. Just bear in mind that these parks are used by many owners with all types of dogs, some friendly and others a little less so. It is very important for all owners to carefully monitor these “play-dates” and make sure that their dog is socialized and behaving well.
