pets
Playtime with Your Pooch
Where to find Bergen’s dog (and dog-friendly) parks
COMPILED BY KIMBERLY WILSON
Lakeview Park, Leonia
This park has off-leash pet hours on
weekdays and weekends, where dogs
are allowed to run free in the park while
supervised by their owners.
Visitors are allowed to bring
their dogs to these parks,
provided that they are held
on a leash at all times.
Overpeck County Park, Leonia
Palisades Interstate
Park, Alpine
This is a beautiful place to take a walk
with the dog and to take advantage of
the off-leash dog run. The entrance to
the park is on Fort Lee Road.
Riverside County Park,
Joseph A. Carucci area, Lyndhurst
This off-leash dog run and playground has
two separate fenced-in areas for smaller
and larger dogs. The 4-foot-high fenced
area has a safety-gated entrance. There is
ample parking and benches for two-legged
guests.
Riverside Park Animal Park,
North Arlington
OVERPECK COUNTY PARK LEONIA
B
ergen County has a variety of dog parks and
dog-friendly parks where your pooch can have
some recreational play time with other dogs.
Dog owners must stay inside the dog park and
watch their dog at all times, and it’s important
that your dog comes to you when called. If you are not sure
how your dog will react to other dogs, start with walks on a
leash with a friend who also has a dog, and then progress to
walks at a dog-friendly park to observe interaction with other
dogs. The first visit to an off-leash dog park should be during
off-peak hours. Walk the dog around the outside of the fence
first, to observe the dogs at play and to see how your own dog
reacts.
Every off-leash dog park also has some basic rules: Dogs
must be with an adult. Your dog must wear a collar at all
times inside the park. You must clean up after your dog;
waste bags are sometimes provided. If your dog shows any
aggression, you must immediately remove it from the park.
Towns that do not have off-leash parks often allow dogs
on leashes on public property, and may fine dog owners who
violate the rules.
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2017 EDITION | (201) WELCOME
DOG-FRIENDLY
PARKS
This off-leash dog park has some agility
equipment. It’s fenced, but the fence is
pretty low, so be careful if your dog can
jump. Also, it gets muddy after rain or
snow melt.
Saddle River County Park, Ridgewood
Known commonly as the “Duck Pond,”
this park features two separate dog runs
for smaller and larger dogs.
Van Saun County Park, Paramus
One of Bergen County’s newest dog parks,
it has easy parking and is centrally located
in Bergen County.
Wallington County Park/
Sam Nelkin County Park, Wallington
This park has two separate fenced-in areas
for smaller and larger dogs. There are
benches and tables outside of the fences
for owners to relax and watch their pets
at play.
West Woof Dog Run, Westwood
This off-leash park has small and large dog
sections, with water and benches.
Wood Dale County Park, Woodcliff Lake
This is a fenced-in area with a woodchip
surface. Bathrooms and water are right
next to the run, so you don’t need to bring
your own bottles or bowls. Trash cans and
disposable bags are also available.
Dogs must be under their
owner’s control, leashed, and
cleaned up after at all times.
Dogs are not allowed in the
Greenbrook Sanctuary.
Veterans Memorial Park
& Schauble Park, Closter
These two parks are popular
places to bring your dogs. A
regular group of people and
their pets visit the parks in
the morning. The parks also
have dispensers of dog waste
bags.
Campgaw Mountain
Reservation & Ramapo
Valley County Reservation,
Mahwah
Both reservations are ideal
locations for people who
love the great outdoors.
Hiking trails are dog-friendly
and marked, with views of
the Ramapo Mountains and
waterfalls. Family-friendly
trails and swimming are also
available. Entrance is on
Ramapo Valley Road.
Veterans Field, Ridgewood
Dogs are welcome along the
track at Vets Field if they are
kept on a leash at all times.
Many events are held on the
field including baseball and
softball games, as well as
summer concerts and other
town-wide activities.
Glen Rock, Hillsdale,
Little Ferry, Lyndhurst,
North Arlington, Northvale,
Wallington and Westwood
also have animal-friendly
parks.
KEVIN R. WEXLER/THE RECORD
DOG PARKS – OFF-LEASH