How we rated them
4 paws: Bow wow! Race your pooch there
3 paws: A fun and serviceable neighborhood run
2 paws: A dog park in need of some TLC
1 paw: Grrrr. Your hound is not impressed
Washington Square Park Dog Run, Washington Place and MacDougal Street
Like the perpetual drum circle in this iconic Greenwich Village park, the vibe in this canine clubhouse is mellow and familial.
Brando, a 9-year-old chow mix and Wellington, an 8-year-old long-haired dachsund, lope through the run while Isabella, a 1-year-old English Lab, seems content digging a hole under a bench.
Pooch perks: The recently renovated Robin Kovary Run for small dogs makes a terrific romper room for pooches under 25 pounds, with its in-ground, free-flowing pool and faux logs. The big boys, however, must make due with a spacious but barren arena — think dust bowl in the heat, murky swamp in the rain.
Human scene: Laidback and loyal. “We’ve made a lot of friends here,” says Deborah Lauren, 48, who lives in SoHo and has been escorting Brando and Wellington to the park for the last four years.
Bonus treats: True to its community focus, the park hosts both an annual Halloween dog parade and Adoptapalooza, a pet-rescue festival with entertainment for kids and their four-legged friends. Just a few blocks north, Furry Paws (9 E. Eighth St.) stocks kibble and treats — and offers doggie takeout delivery.
Ruff rating: 2 out of 4 paws
Small dogs sit pretty in their newly renovated run while big-boned brothers are still slumming it. More paws pending when the renovation is complete!
Tompkins Square Park Dog Run, Ninth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Sure, you may have to walk past a cluster of junkies inside the square. And yes, rats mix it up with squirrels under the trees. But your dog will never want for company in this busy canine terminal, thought to be NYC’s original dog run.
A yapping trio — a Maltese (mom), a Yorkie (dad) and their 9-month-old offspring (a Yorktese?) — guard their owner’s bench in the small dog arena while half a dozen Labs chase down a tennis ball in the large-dog run. Pola Garcia, 32, of the East Village, works from home and sneaks out regularly to Tompkins to give her 10-month-old Maltese, Ozzy (yep, after Ozzy Osbourne), exercise. “He’s so needy,” she says. “I just try to get him tired so I can work.”
Pooch perks: A bone-shaped wading pool and fresh flowing water please pups at this high-energy haunt, which features sandy floors and adjoining lots for large and small dogs. Pet owners overlook flaws (like the unmistakable eau de urine and the occasional dog tussle), citing the park as their favorite spot in the city to unleash mutts.
Human scene: Reflects the eclectic vibe of the nabe. “It can get crazy,” says Mark Minnig, there with his 8-year-old affenpinscher, Otis. “But it’s usually the people.”
Bonus treats: Nearby Whiskers Holistic Pet Care (235 E. Ninth St.) dispenses health tips and treats — such as freeze-dried lamb lung — to deserving dogs. Call ahead to schedule a groom with the tiny Doggie Dearest (543 E. Fifth St.).
Ruff rating: 3 out of 4 paws
The park has everything a dog could ask for: water for splashing, dirt for rolling and plenty of four-legged company. But the human ambience knocks it downa paw.
Carl Schurz Park Dog Run, East End Avenue and 86th Street
This Upper East Side escape is nestled near Gracie Mansion in picturesque Carl Schurz Park. It’s subdued and tidy, much like the neighborhood.
While the occasional pampered pooch rolls by in a stroller (hello, coddled Pekingese!), it’s a decidedly mixed crowd. Buddy, a 75-pound goldendoodle (who recently toasted his first birthday with a “Pooch-ini” treat from Shake Shack), sniffs the perimeter while 1-year-old boxer mix, Atticus, delights in dancing under the park’s water hose.
Pooch perks: The dirt run (with a few clumps of rocks) for large dogs is lined with benches. The small-dog set gets its own separate concourse. And although it’s little more than an elevated sidewalk, views of the East River are calming while shaded benches offer relief to weary owners and their pint-sized terriers. Both runs provide fresh running water.
Human scene: Friendly and inviting. “Most of the dogs that come down here I know. And I’m familiar with a lot of the owners,” says regular Alex Kiss, a 39-year-old contractor who shares custody of Sophie, a shepherd mix, with his ex-wife. “It’s a good dog run.”
Bonus treats: Regulars (the owners, that is) roam north, near East 80th Street, to (illegally) slip their dogs off leash. They also frequent the mutt-themed Barking Dog (1453 York Ave.) for brunch, and Sandy’s Doggie and Kitty Spa (311 E. 92nd St.) for a wash and trim after a hard day of play.
Ruff rating: 3 out of 4 paws
Better accommodations for smaller breeds would push this park into the four-paw zone.
McCarren Park Dog Run, Union and Driggs avenues, Brooklyn
This clean, no-frills Williamsburg park attracts a crowd that’s lively, friendly and, of course, hipper than thou.
Messi, a 7-month-old Shar-Pei, trots to the gate to greet each incoming pooch. His hello ritual includes a sniff and a leg lift, marking his territory on the metal gate that’s just swung shut. Meanwhile, Billie, a 1-year-old pointer-whippet mix named for singer Billie Holiday, races around the run hunting for a spot to bury her mud-caked tennis ball.
Pooch perks: The mostly dirt yard and lack of hoses mean dusty summer play, though wood chips in the adjoining pee-wee run help alleviate the haze. And the soft ground appeals to every hole-digging hound. A few low benches dot the yard, providing a rest stop for humans and a hop spot for limber canines.
Human scene: Relaxed enough for Messi’s owner, Kenny Diaz, to chill with a brown-bagged beer. “It’s at a crossroads of neighborhoods, so it’s a good mix of people,” says Benoit Montin, 34, the French-born “dad” to Charlie, a 3-year-old Boston terrier with a penchant for sticks.
Bonus treats: Arrive early on Saturdays to grab greens from the Union Avenue farmers’ market, behind the dog run. Treat pups filthy from rolling in the dirt to a bath at Happy Dogs (234 N. 12th St., at Union Avenue).
Ruff rating: 3 out of 4 paws
The beasts in this park are worthy of running water, and their humans deserve a few shadier spots to sit, so we’re docking a whole paw.
Chelsea Waterside Park Dog Run, 23rd Street and 11th Avenue
The whir of traffic provides the soundtrack for doggie rendezvous at this Westside Highway hideaway. The well-designed Chelsea hound haven draws dog lovers from all around town. “This is our favorite dog park,” says Heather Gordon, 27, who treks to the park from Brownsville, Brooklyn, with her husband, Lamar, and Laila, their boxer. “It’s clean. They have fresh water, there’s plenty of shade, there’s obstacles for them to jump over. She loves it.”
Pooch perks: A flowing hose, wading pool and man-made hills create a jungle-gym atmosphere in this pup playground, where dogs of all sizes mingle in a fenced-in asphalt lot.
Human scene: Stylish young professionals. “There’s a definite crew” during the week, says Rebecca Martin, 26, from Chelsea, but on weekends, runners and bikers using paths in the Hudson River Park stop in with their dogs.
Bonus treats: As you wag your way home, drop by the Barking Zoo (172 Ninth Ave.) for organic chicken treats or a four-legged fall sweater. Or polish those mutt manners at Spot (145 W. 20th St.), which offers behavior and agility classes.
Ruff rating: 4 out of 4 paws
Amenities aplenty make this park a winner for both man and beast.