Dog Parks in Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Heights is a great neighborhood to live in with a dog. There are four Department of Parks and Recreation sanctioned dog runs that make it possible for your pup to socialize with other dogs and romp off-leash, while also being in a safe enclosed environment.

Hillside Dog Park occupies a little over two acres of sloping triangular space bordering Columbia Heights, Vine Street, and the BQE. The run features a separate area for dogs under 25 pounds, wood chip ground covers made from tree pruning and Christmas trees, two water fountains for canine and human use, four circular benches and three picnic tables, plus a lot of shade from the surrounding twenty-four trees. There are two entrances on Vine Street and two on Columbia Heights. The well-maintained run is open at all times, every day except on snowy days when the big dog area is designated for sledders and all dogs must stay in the small dog area. Friends of Hillside Park is a nonprofit group dedicated to the dog run and always need volunteers to help with cleanup, dog rescuing and fostering, and special events.

One of the most beautiful dog runs in New York City is located in Brooklyn Bridge Park. There are actually two separate off-leash areas, an older one at the Main Street Park (Adams Street and N/S Plymouth Street) and a newer run at Pier 6, which has a volunteer group maintaining the area. The circular red-gravel run at Pier 6 has an entrance at Atlantic Avenue and offers a shower and water fountain for four-legged visitors. The recently expanded dog run at the Main Street Park offers breathtaking views of the East River and the Manhattan skyline.
A much smaller and not as nice dog run is located at the Palmetto Playground on Columbia Place and State Street. There are four benches and one light source for night time play.

If you're a bit more trusting of your dog not to run off into the sunset, there is a non-enclosed area that dogs are allowed to roam free. Between the hours of 9 pm and 9 am, dogs may be off-leash at the Brooklyn War Memorial in Cadman Plaza Park located at Cadman Plaza West and East and Prospect Street.

Sources:
NYC Parks Department
http://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/dogruns
Friends of Hillside Park
http://www.hillsidedogs.org/