In the Meatpacking District, where velvet ropes protect the entrances to some of the city’s most upscale clubs, a half dozen dogs mingle in their own members-only outdoor lounge. Owners chat with friends while their pets chase after squeaky toys or take a dip in one of the two wading pools.
The dogs still scuffle and bark, but the atmosphere is relaxed, and the paved ground is somehow devoid of dog poop.
The West Village D.O.G. (Dog Owners Group) Run on Little West 12th Street might look like one of the roughly 150 public dog runs across New York’s five boroughs, but there’s a big difference: The entrance is locked and accessible only to those with a key.
It’s one of several membership-based dog parks in the city.
At the West Village run, members must apply to join, proving their dog is of sound temperament and up to date on his or her vaccinations. Annual fees are $75, and prospective members have to attend an orientation.
And it’s all worth it, say members.
“It’s very friendly here,” says Yanni Legaskis, 41, the owner of Luna, a mellow, 21-pound mutt. “It’s not like the more public dog runs where everyone’s more aloof.”
A frequent wait-list at the run lends an exclusive air to the club. Membership is capped at around 300 families, and, every September, existing members must apply for membership for the next year, alongside potential new members. Still, those in the club bristle at the idea that it is somehow elite.
“We have people of all ages, with all types of dogs. We’re all-volunteer and we work really hard to keep this run the way it is,” says Tracey Sides, founder and chair of the group. “It’s by no means private and expensive, where only wealthy people can join.”
Dues fund insurance, rent — which goes to the Department of Transportation — lighting for the 24/7 run and keeping the shed stocked with amenities like squeaky toys, hand sanitizer, paper towels, poop bags and first aid supplies. And at $75 a year, the cost is a pittance compared to other doggie expenditures like a daily dog walker, which often runs around $100 a week, or just shy of $5,000 a year.
“The dues are cheap comparatively just for the peace of mind that it gives you that you’re coming to a place safe for your dog,” says Legaskis.
Members admit to a few dog-toting celebrities visiting the run, but are unwilling to divulge their names.
“That’s one of the things we don’t talk about here,” says Andrea Stempel, a lawyer and a member of the run since the mid-’90s. “They just blend and chat with everyone.”
Indeed, members say that socializing with the other two-legged members is a top perk of the club.
“I like the social aspect, both for him and me,” says Craig Rosenberg, a 28-year-old investment banker who joined the run with his goldendoodle puppy, Bojangles. “This is what the West Village should be: just lots of different kinds of people coming together and having a chill time, meeting and hanging out.”
Members Only dog parks
Astro’s Dog Run
The planted garden and tended trees provide a cozy, neighborhood feel for this Hell’s Kitchen run, where members pay $35 for a key and must abide by rules such as “love your dog, love their playground.”
10th Avenue at 39th Street, astrosdogrun.org
Dog Owners of Tribeca
This spacious paved dog run commands an annual fee of $120 and reserves the right to boot members for failing to clean up after their pooches.
Warren Street between Greenwich and West streets, Dogownersoftribeca.com
Mercer-Houston Dog Run Association
Members pay $60 to join this NYU-adjacent run that focuses on a “clean, stress-free environment” with a ban on choke collars, kids under 12 and toys other than tennis balls.
Houston and Mercer Streets, mercerhoustondogrun.org