Dog Parks in New York City: Every Official Off-Leash Area (2026)

In this guide

1. Dog runs vs. off-leash hours: the two systems
2. The rules that get people fined
3. Dogs at NYC beaches
4. Best picks by borough
5. Every official dog run and off-leash area
6. Safety tips NYC Parks gives dog owners
7. Frequently asked questions

This guide explains how the two systems work, which rules New Yorkers actually get fined for, and lists every official dog run and off-leash area by borough.

Dog runs vs. off-leash hours: the two systems

The off-leash-hours system is what makes New York unusual. At 8:59 a.m. a dog running across Prospect Park's Long Meadow is legal; at 9:01 it is a ticket. If you're used to fenced dog parks in other cities, this is the rule to learn first.

There are exceptions to the standard hours. MacNeil Park and Yellowstone Park in Queens and Snug Harbor in Staten Island allow off-leash dogs only from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. — no evening window.

The rules that get people fined

These come from NYC Parks and the city Health Code. Most visitors know the leash rule; fewer know the paperwork rule.

• Carry your dog's license and rabies proof. The NYC Health Code requires every dog owner to carry proof of a current dog license and rabies vaccination while in public. You can apply for a license through the city's Department of Health or by calling 311.
• Leash length: six feet maximum, everywhere outside dog runs and off-leash hours. Retractable leashes extended past six feet don't comply.
• No dogs in playgrounds, fountains, ball fields, courts, pools or bathing areas — even during off-leash hours. "Whole park" off-leash areas always exclude these.
• Don't let your dog chase wildlife. Chasing birds and squirrels is specifically prohibited, and off-leash privileges in some parks can change to protect wildlife.
• No drinking from park fountains unless there's a dedicated dog fountain, and no swimming except in water specifically designated for dogs.
• Pick up and use the park's waste containers.

Dogs at NYC beaches

Beach rules trip up a lot of owners. Dogs are not allowed on city beaches during bathing season. As a courtesy, dogs may be on the sand at all NYC beaches from October 2 through the Friday before Memorial Day. From Memorial Day weekend to October 1, dogs are banned from the sand — and at Coney Island, Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach, from the boardwalk and promenade too. At Rockaway, leashed dogs are banned from both sand and boardwalk during the season.

That makes fall and spring the best seasons for a beach walk with your dog in New York — and the off-season is when South Beach on Staten Island has designated off-leash hours on the sand.

Best picks by borough

Manhattan: small runs, everywhere

Manhattan has more fenced runs than any other borough, and most are compact neighborhood enclosures. The standouts are along the rivers: Riverside Park has runs at West 72nd, 87th and 105th Streets, plus Riverside Park South and a run at 142nd Street; Hudson River Park has runs at Pier 40 and Pier 84; and Carl Schurz Park on the Upper East Side has two.

Central Park has no enclosed dog run. Instead, the Central Park Conservancy lists 23 dog-friendly areas where dogs may be off leash during off-leash hours, with some areas — like certain lawns and all water bodies — always off limits. Download the Conservancy's dog owner guide before you go; the boundaries are specific.

For the most room in Manhattan, go north: Randalls Island is off-leash across the island during off-leash hours, except where signs say otherwise, and Inwood Hill, Fort Tryon and Highbridge all have runs.

Brooklyn: the off-leash borough

Prospect Park is the one most dog owners picture: during off-leash hours, dogs can run on the Middle and Upper Long Meadow (not the ballfield area of the Lower Long Meadow), the Nethermead and the Peninsula. Early mornings there are a daily social event. Fort Greene, Marine Park and Canarsie Park also allow off-leash dogs across most of the park during those hours.

For fenced runs, McCarren Park and McGolrick Park in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bridge Park at Pier 6, and Washington Park in Park Slope are among the busiest.

Queens: space and variety

Queens has the widest mix. Forest Park has two fenced runs — the K9 Korral and the Overlook Dog Park, known as the Barking Lot — plus off-leash hours in parts of the park (not on natural trails). Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Astoria Park and Alley Pond Park offer off-leash hours, and the Rockaways have both a run and off-leash areas near the beach.

The Bronx: Van Cortlandt and Pelham Bay

Van Cortlandt Park has three separate runs — Canine Court, the Dog Bone Run and the Kathleen Duffy Corrigan Dog Run — which makes it one of the best-served parks in the city. Pelham Bay Park has both a run and an off-leash area near the Middletown Road parking lot, and Soundview is one of the few runs officially listed with separate large and small dog sections.

Staten Island: fields and lawns

Staten Island's options are mostly open lawns with off-leash hours: Clove Lakes Park has two, and Willowbrook, Allison Park and Lemon Creek each have one. Silver Lake Park and Wolfe's Pond Park have fenced runs.

Every official dog run and off-leash area

This list comes from NYC Parks' directory of dog-friendly areas. "Fenced run" means a dog run open during park hours; "off-leash hours" means dogs may be off leash only before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m. unless noted above. The Murray Playground dog run in Queens is currently closed and isn't listed.

Manhattan (34)

Brooklyn (38)

Queens (33)

The Bronx (29)

Staten Island (17)

Safety tips NYC Parks gives dog owners

• Never tie your dog to a bench, fence or light pole, and never leave it unattended.
• Keep aggressive or unsocialized dogs leashed and away from other dogs at all times.
• Don't step between fighting dogs. Throw water, toss a blanket or make a loud noise instead.
• Consider a microchip. The city specifically recommends it as protection against theft.
• Stay off wet grass. After rain, the soil compacts far more easily, and heavy use damages the lawns that make off-leash areas possible.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: NYC Parks, Dog-friendly Areas directory; NYC Parks rules and regulations; Central Park Conservancy. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Hours and access change — always check the sign at the park.