Carl Schurz Small Dog Run

Great dog park. Got a section for little dogs and the big guys. The dog runs are rite on the water making it the perfect lil getaway for you and your canine. Most dogs and owners that come here are very sweet. Aside from people dropping their kids off in the little dog park like its a day care, it is pretty close to perfection.

Saturday & Sunday morning are lively runs on the basketball court — mostly older gents with colorful lingo — and a pretty empty court for roller hockey or soccer. We usually throw a baseball around when no one’s using it.

Waiting to see Macy’s 4^th of July fireworks. They shooting them just south of the Brooklyn Bridge this year, East River. Change in venue this year. I’m at 86^th and not going any further south, like to 23^rd. No way!

We’ve been taking our little dog here to play for years and love it. It’s in a great setting, right on the East River. It’s filled with lots of friendly people and cute dogs. But watch out in the summer — the surface gets very hot!

While the sand ground can get you dirty, its a nice place to bring the family friend with all the necessities nearby.

The small dog run is one of the best parks in the city. The location is not convenient, but it’s precisely the location which makes this such a fantastic place to bring your dog. The park itself is beautifully manicured and clean, maintained by a thorough staff and conscious residents. The little dog run is set against the promenade overlooking the East River, and is a very peaceful escape from the rest of Manhattan.
Unlike many of the other dog runs in New York, I appreciate how this one is dedicated specifically to dogs weighing under 23 lbs. There are benches where owners can sit and watch as their dogs play. The park also provides poop bags for those who might have forgotten theirs. Because the run is made of concrete, it lacks the odor of the large dog run. There is also a cleaning station at the small dog run where owners can wash away waste which may have collected on the concrete.
The ambience here is generally welcoming and friendly. I have always encountered warm– hearted dog owners and had pleasant conversations. There is a very profound sense of community at the small dog run, even amongst people whom have never met before. Many of the owners facilitate play between the dogs and will intervene should one of them become overly– excited or aggressive.
The one big caveat about the small dog run is the low railing. Because there is a four foot drop from the elevated small dog run to the promenade, «bigger small dogs» can easily become injured should they fall over the railing.

One of the better small dog runs in Manhattan in a great little park.
Things it has going for it:
— Not a lot of wear and tear
— Clean
— Seating for humans
— Has a water
— Has poop bags
— Area to hose off your dog
— Dedicated small dog run — dogs weighting under 23 lbs (with a dedicated large dog run 50 feet away)
— Safe area/​park
— Views of East River
Things it has against it:
— Could be bigger
— No bathrooms for humans near run but in park
— Concrete ground cover can get hot in summer
— Fencing might be to low for some small dogs
This is one of the better small dog runs in Manhattan that I have experienced so far. If the ground cover was pea gravel or synthetic turf it and the fences were taller it would probably be a 4 star run in my opinion.
Dog runs/​parks I have been to so far:

My Boston Terrier loves this dog park and that’s all that matters. It’s on the small side and can get crowded, especially on the weekends. But it’s clean and the views are beautiful. The dogs are usually well behaved and their humans are friendly. I agree with other reviewers in that the fence is pretty low and can be dangerous. Although luckily, I have never seen an accident there.
But just to be safe, I sometimes take my pup to the large dog run. That one is much bigger and properly fenced, but it’s also dirtier and doesn’t have pretty views. Oh well, if you go to a dog run for the views, you kind of missed the point…

Having just randomly bumped into her littermate, my dog enjoyed her first ever dog park experience in the big dog run with her sister a month ago. It’s a good size and I’ll never forget the image of her realizing how fast she truly is when there is no leash involved.
We don’t live nearby, but we have returned a few times to enjoy the park while visiting friends.
At least there is a hose! Your dog will be absolutely filthy, but exhausted and smiling when your time is up.

This is where I take Pitzie, Cheppie and Nathan Jr. It’s a little small, but has a great view of the East River. People all stop by and look at the dogs… Some people are a little stuck up which can sometimes can be a downer, but I guess you get that wherever.

Nice place to visit with your dog when you are visiting NYC. Different from our dog park at home. No grass but the dogs are well behaved.

Very clean! My 35 lb border collie loves the small dog run. I know — she’s too big for it, but she likes to play with the little ones. No one seems to mind. Its a weekly ritual on Saturday mornings!

I love taking my dog Cooper to this dog run because he gets to make new friends. It’s elevated so they have a nice view of the river. It’s also paved so there’s less disease quietly brewing, as opposed to the big dog run with its dirt.
For the most part, most the dogs that frequent there are nice and play well, but there’s the occasional one meanie. Most owners take responsibility for what their dogs do, and keep an eye on the dogs.
I like the benches too. It gets really busy sometimes, especially during the weekends because some people who don’t own dogs like to come watch. Some people let their kids in to play with the dogs (not always a good idea).
There are doggie newsletters there sometimes, extra bags for picking up poo, a pump and bowl for fresh water and tools to clean up after your dog.
It’s more than enough for Cooper.
The park could use some signs to the dog runs I guess.

Eeeeeee…
It’s an elevated dog park. Sounds cool — but can be tricky for «bigger» small dogs. The railing is really low and my (somewhat clumsy) 20lb Boston Terrier flipped over it while chasing a ball, fell at least 4 feet to the ground (on his poor head!)
… but he kept chasing the ball… so I guess he was okay. (Bout gave me a heart attack though!)
Wish it worked out because the views are great; the park is peaceful; and the Upper East Side dog owners are generally entertaining … but I’m not trying to take my dog to animal ER.

I love this park so much!
The small dog run is one of my FAVORITE parts of Carl Schurz Park.
There’s a small fenced area where you can bring your small dogs. It’s made of smooth concrete and there are benches inside for the owners or dogs to rest under if they’re tired or hot from the sun.
I’d definitely recommend this place for a small dog owner to meet other dogs. Everyone seemed to have a friendly experience here.

What’s not to love about this dog run?
It’s right on the East River and on a gorgeous day it is nothing short of heavenly.
The dogs are always running around, wagging their tails, and all happy like. The owners that are there are nice for the most part.
Plus, who doesn’t like watching small puppies have fun?

Nice clean place for your puppy to meet other puppies. I started my English Staff at 3 months there, and she grew up to be a playful and sweet big muscular girl. Some shade on the benches during the hot summer days and runny water with community bowls. There are pooper scooper available to use to clean up after your dog.

I came out here for a pomeranian meet up group, and honestly it was probably about as far away as we could possibly be from where i live (chelsea)…it took me an hour to get here and over an hour to get back.
The small dog run was a bit tricky to find having never been here, and its a bit small and fairly minimal… all concrete, a couple benches, all in all i was a bit annoyed to travel so far for this park (and hoping the future meetups will be more centrally located)…
That said, the dogs were well behaved, the park was clean, and they had a lot of water for the dogs which is always appreciated! Minus the pee scent I absolutely prefer the WA Sq park dog run (both big and small)…even more so due to that location!

The dog park is pretty good. It is generally clean and the people there are mostly very nice. I have had more experiences here with a few overly zealous dogs than in other local dog parks. Also, some dogs don’t like the surface since it is rocks rather than dirt.
They are doing some construction now so there is limited access to water, hopefully that is resolved when it is finished.

The small dog run is ok. It would be a lot nicer if it were covered, and the fence was a tad bit higher. I have seen dogs sometimes jump over the fence and get out of this park.
Overall, it’s a nice mix of small dog owners who bring their dogs and get to know one another.
I enjoy it a lot in the spring, summer and early fall for the Luce-​monster to come and play.
The only real complaint I have is because it’s right along the boardwalk for the East River and near the playground, you get a lot of parents with their children wandering around, and often, unattended children without pets will come into the run.
The people at this park are generally nice, and I enjoy it. It’s pretty well maintained and bags are supplied in case you need them. There is usually a bowl of water for the dogs as well.