Americans love their dogs. In fact, according to the Humane Society, approximately seventy-eight million dogs were owned in the county in 2009. Almost one in four US households own at least one dog and here at Westchester County, Antwerp is a dog’s life! A friend of mine once said that he was dying to return Labrador retriever to a well-to-do Westchester home with a large yard.
To be fair, not every home in this affluent county is complete with a large fenced-in area for Fido to roam around. Fear not, the county now operates 11 “official” fun parks for your pet. As our dog owner’s Great Dane toured the park, I saw the good, bad and sometimes ugly side of these playgrounds.
County dog about half to two acres fenced in bastions that allow your dog to roam. off-leash they interact with other canine friends. As an owner, you must follow the rules and leave any “mess” your pooch and monitor his toy. Aggressive dogs dog-parks was established in Ossining in 2003. Located at Cedar Lane Park, this park boasts three entrances with double docks, a base of wood chips, and water fountains for dogs and owners. . It is a bucolic occasion in the summer, when the breezes wash over the mountains. In winter, the wind howls through the park and a roof was built in 2007 to block the harsh wind. Transportation to and from the park by car is a must.
Finally, another dog located in the town of Greenburgh east of Rumbrook Park, which is adjacent to the Sprain Brook Parkway, the dog park has two double entrances , a dog fountain and plenty 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 best features of this stand is the wood foam base and the lighting for night time runs.
A few miles to the east you’ll find White Plains Bark Park. Just under half an acre, this park, located in Brockway Place adjacent to I-287, has two fenced areas for Small and large dogs, benches and canine fountains. With peacock gravel as a base, your dog will have “dusty” during the warmer months so that the base is easily loosened and kicked, when it is dry, it will take a small disadvantage of the design.
For a couple of off-road choices, consider coming to Rye Town Park/Oakland Beach early in the morning to let your dog dog in the grass romp . All dogs at all times, but in the early hours of the morning (before 9 am); most owners allow their dogs to run off leash. Remember that this Dog is not secured so your pooch needs to respond to your verbal commands.
Another lesser known location is Larchmont Beach. This area is commonly used by the locals for access to water. You cannot park anywhere near the beach, so you will have to leave the car park elsewhere (try Helena Ave. .). It’s a little hard to find but when you arrive you’ll have your pet on a small beach sheltered in Long Island Sound to play. There are no facilities like water fountains or bag dispensers to clean-up after your dog so be prepared.
These and many other options make Westchester County a dog-friendly environment for you and your pet. Just remember that these parks are used by many owners of all kinds of dogs, some friendly, some less so. It is important for all owners to carefully remind them of these “fairy tales” and make sure that their dog is socialized and well behaved.
