Ossining Dog Park

This dog park isn’t bad, it has most of basics of a good dog park.
Things it has going for it:
— Separate large and small dog runs
— Plenty of shade
— Plenty of lawn furniture scattered through out for seating
— Dedicate parking
— Poop bags provided
— Adequate fencing
— Port-​a-​Potty in parking lot… just in case
— Small rock outcrops
— Some obstacles for dogs to play on/​with
— Good size large dog run with 2 entrances
— Dedicated dog drinking fountain
— Fire pit (don’t know how safe it is with dogs playing around it)
Things it has going against it:
— Needs some TLC
— Gets buggy
— Small dog run is too small
— Wood chip and dirt ground cover
— Could be cleaner
Its a rustic dog run in the woods that needs a little TLC. Expand the small dog run and add a water to that run, along with some clean up and this is a 4 star dog run.
** The driveway/​road in the park going up to this dog run is only 1 car wide so take it slow using the driveway/​road**
Dog runs/​parks I have been to so far:

Dog park is wonderful and pretty well maintained. I’ve been several times and will continue to return, but seek out the quieter times when there aren’t as many people.
Although everybody seems well intentioned, there is a distinct «Not my dog’s fault» about any problems. I am extremely surprised at the breed discrimination. Regardless of which dog is aggressive, certain owners deny any responsibility and blame dogs who «look aggressive.» I take the opposite tack, and understand that my dog isn’t everybody’s best friend.. .she gets along well with most dogs and people, but I remove her should she become overwhelmed. All I ask is that people follow the rules of the park and keep dogs leashed while outside the fenced area, keep the gates between areas closed, and the ratio of humans to dogs at a controllable rate. We have encountered several problems with specific people bringing more dogs than they can control and having dogs off leash outside the fenced area. Also, people should honor requests when asked specifically not to feed/​pet other people’s dogs. When we see certain dogs/​people, we try to leave before they enter the park. These people continuously disregard protections designed to help dogs stay safe.
That being said, there are some wonderful people and wonderful dogs who have helped my dog become more comfortable and happy over the past years.

Two stars only because the small dog section is very small. When I went there the gate between the small & large sections was open, and about 4 – 5 big dogs (but only 1 owner) came running over which freaked out my tiny dog. Will continue to go to the dog park in White Plains instead.

People don’t take responsibilities for their dogs. They are more interested in socializing with other people that when their dog gets aggressive they don’t notice it and then blame the dog that was being attacked. People that go there aren’t always the most friendly in the world.
I have seen an unacceptable number of unfixed dogs there. When you bring an unfixed male into a dog park with females, chances are there are going to be problems.
People smoke cigarettes and flick the butts into the wood chips. I know there are a whole lot of dogs in this world that will eat anything. Can’t imagine that’s good for a dog. Its not that hard to walk 50 feet and flick your butt into the parking lot where dogs aren’t.
We have chosen to not bring our dog there anymore. Maybe the 4 times we went there we encountered something out of the ordinary, but from our experiences we will never bring our dog there or recommend the park to anyone.

Ok, folks, now I haven’t been yet to every single dog park in Westchester County (a place where I grew up and just returned to and am stunned at how dog-​unfriendly it can be) — but I’m here to tell you that the Ossining Dog Park is WONDERFUL! I’m hoping to move back to Westchester for a job, and now with my dog in tow, and a big dog park fan, went in search of some good ones. I was getting discouraged until I found a website that lists all of Westchester’s dog parks –
– and the one in Ossining looked interesting, so finally decided to try it out.
I have been to dog parks in LA, SF, Vegas, and all over Central Florida and this is definitely in the Top 3. It is on the grounds of a very rustic park — the dog park is way up the hill, set aside, secluded, amongst forest. It is very quiet, woodsy, peaceful, and whomever designed it really did so with dogs in mind (you’d be surprised at how many dog parks are just slapped together with no forethought whatsoever).
It has those great wood chips on the ground, a doggie drinking fountain, plenty of poop bag stations, chairs, doggie «playground» items, a big boulder to climb on, and, very important to me, a sloping landscape, which is great for the dogs exercise-​wise.
And, not the least: not only are the dogs all great, all the people I met are wonderful, which is not always the case at these places. I heard this place is very popular — one regular travels all the way from Eastchester! — even in the winter.
Thank you City Of Ossining and others for having the good judgment to have a great dog park. They «get it.» A lot of cities, all they think of is the hassle of the dog park — but GOOD dog parks bring people from all around, and many times that means bringing consumer dollars to the community.

A one of a kind dog park in Westchester, as far as I know.
It is located on top of a hill in Cedar Lane Park. There is a large fenced in area, with a separate section available for small dogs. The ground is covered with wood chips from local landscapers. There are lights that stay on until 8pm, and water lines are in the works. There is also a very clean (I am told) port-​a-​potty.
Most of the regulars are pretty cool, responsible dog owners. I know far more of the dogs names than those of the humans that go with them. The recently elected part president is a great guy named John Girolamo, with beautiful Great Dane named Harley. We visit several times a week with our guy, Rocky. He’s the one in my photo.