Although we were staying with friends right next to the Washington Square dog park, the square in February 2009 was a sea of construction and we were happy to find a second dog park so close by. The Union Square off-leash dog run is on the west side of the square, and although it’s modest in size it’s certainly big enough for a small dog. It is completely fenced and has the usual double gates at the entrance. There are lots of benches for humans, mature trees providing shade, and a water fountain.

Since we visited the park after a major winter storm, it looked much different from this. The gravel, for example, was hidden by a lot of (yellow) snow, which reminded us that the park is very heavily used (we returned to the park on a hot day in April 2009, and it does get whiffy). Chloe loved it, however, and we were grateful to find such a pleasant spot for off-leash romping in the middle of Manhattan.

The run is open from 6 am to midnight, and any dog-and-owner may use it. As the sign on the gate says: “No dogs without people. No people without dogs.”

Union Square
New York, NY 10003