What to Know
- New data shows NYC as the U.S. city with the most dog parks
- Dog parks are great for dogs to exercise and play, but also great for community
- Dog parks are the fastest growing part of park building
What can we say -- we love our four-legged friends.
New York City might be a concrete jungle, but it also has more dog parks than any other city in the country, according to new data. Ahead of National Puppy Day Saturday, The Trust for Public Land has released a report ranking dog parks around the United States.
As well as having the most off-leash dog parks in the country (145), New York also ranked 27 out of 100 United States cities based on the number of off-leash dog areas per 100,000 people, beating other major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Boise, Idaho, had the most dog parks per capita with 5.7 parks per 100,000 residents.
The first dog park in New York City was the one at Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, the trust says. The well-known dog park attracts dog owners and watchers alike, and the park even hosts an annual Halloween dog parade for pooches who like to party.
Meanwhile dog parks around the country are getting more interesting, with things like swimming and agility features being added to park, the trust notes. It even lists ideas for making your local dog park more exciting.
Trust for Public Land New York State Director Carter Strickland points out dog parks are not only good for dogs, but also for humans. "They help dogs get exercise in the urban jungle, allow owners to meet their neighbors and make new friends, and keep turf fields and playgrounds clean for children," he said.
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Diane Regas, President and CEO of The Trust for Public Land agreed. "Having places to meet our neighbors can help us find common ground and encourages everyone to get outside," she said.
See a full list of New York City dog parks here.
