Now that the weather is finally warming up, chances are you and your dog are anxious to spend some time outdoors. If the daily walk around the neighborhood is starting to feel a bit mundane, hitting the dog park might be your (but mainly your dog’s) new favorite way to spend those summer days. A place for socialization, exercise, and a chance to mix up your daily routine, taking a trip to any of these off-leash dog parks can be an adventure for dogs and dog owners alike.
Thanks to a Lancaster, PA local who not only entered but won the 2012 Beneful Dream Dog Park Contest, the Buchanan Dog Park, a.k.a. “Beau’s Dream Dog Park”, was given a much needed makeover, worth up to $500,000. The entire cost of the project was covered by Purina Beneful and was put together by contractor Jason Cameron of HGTV’s “Desperate Landscapes,” renowned pet expert Arden Moore, and celebrity interior designer Nate Berkus. Inspired by the idea of an amusement park, this dog park features a 40-foot-long roller-coaster bridge, splash pads, tunnels and a mechanical tennis ball machine. Completely fenced in, the park is sectioned off in two, one side for large dogs, the other for small breeds.
Set in Sussex County, Wantage Dog Park is the largest of all off-leash dog parks in the Tri-State Area that is also completely fenced in. The eight-acre park has its own agility course and and allows dogs to run, play and explore all while being off the leash. The park also has a small creek that runs parallel to the field for swimming and cooling down.
The Freedom Barks Dog Park in Medford, NJ was originally founded by the Green Acres Program of the Medford Township, and spans over 20 acres (some areas without fencing) inside of Freedom Park. There is a stream for pups to play in and the park makes the most of what the area has to offer, utilizing its spacious fields and naturally woodsy environment.
In South Brunswick Township there is Rocky Top Dog Park, which has three separate fenced or gated areas for large and small breeds to play in and also a designated training area. For some off-leash exercise, there is a pond to splash around in and almost six acres for running and playing.
The Chelsea Waterside Dog Park in Chelsea, NY is one of the more modern and stylish dog parks, made entirely of asphalt rather than wood chips or dirt, it even has a faux sculpture-like tree trunk for decoration. The grounds were formed into rolling hills for dogs to run up and down and the park includes climbing fixtures and fresh running water.
Abby is The Digest's Managing Editor. She spends her time looking at dogs on Instagram and eating her way around Jersey City.
