Exploring Dog-Friendly Fairfield, Westchester and Beyond
Old Town Hall Green
611 Old Post Road
Fairfield, CT, 06824
Website: https://www.ppwpet.com/events
Activities: Walking, Dog Socializing, Dog Show
Last Visit: 2022
Notes: Another wonderful event sponsored by Pet Pantry Warehouse. The two “Dog Days” events (the other is in New Canaan) are like mini-Puttin’ on the Dog shows. Vendors, activities and fun for humans and pups.
New Canaan Nature Center
144 Oenoke Ridge
New Canaan, CT, 06840
Website: https://www.ppwpet.com/events
Activities: Walking, Dog Socializing, Dog Show
Last Visit: 2019
Notes: Another wonderful event sponsored by Pet Pantry Warehouse. The two “Dog Days” events (the other is in Fairfield) are like mini-Puttin’ on the Dog shows. Vendors, activities and fun for humans and pups.
Roger Sherman Baldwin Park
100 Arch Street
Greenwich, CT 06830
Website: https://adopt-a-dog.org/puttin-on-the-dog/
Activities: Dog Show, Dog Socializing, Walking
Last Visit: September, 2024
Notes: Not to be missed event. Adopt-A-Dog’s signature fund raising event is filled with vendors, exhibitions, food trucks and events for humans and dogs alike. One of the highlights are the competitions – fun categories like “Mixed with the Most,” “Aged to Perfection” and “Best Kisser.” All the money raised goes to support the Adopt-A-Dog shelter operations.
139 Touraine Ave.
Port Chester, NY 10573
Website: http://www.portchesterdogpark.com/
Activities: Dog Socializing, Off Leash
Last Visit: 2018
Notes: A fairly new park, Port Chester received a grant from Pet Safe to build this excellent dog run several years ago. Our last few visits were very pleasant – the park is clean and well maintained, there is a doggy water fountain and even a “time out” area for pups who get a little over stimulated. Even though it is nestled between 287 and the abandoned United Hospital, the town did a wonderful job with planting and screening to maintain a quiet, park-like feel. Other owners were friendly.
1040 Washington Boulevard
Stamford, CT 06901
Website: https://millriverpark.org/
Activities: Walking, Dog Socializing, Off Leash*
Last Visit: Spring, 2022
Notes: Mill River Park has many seasonal activates, including a small temporary dog park in the warmer months. Check website for schedule.
Corner of Pemberwick Road & Moshier Street
Greenwich, CT 06830
Website: https://www.greenwichct.gov/facilities/facility/details/Pemberwick-Park-21
Activities: Walking, Hiking, Dog Socializing, Off Leash
Last Visit: 2020
Notes: A parking lot off Pemberwick Rd. was recently added. The meadow in the back is used by many local residents as an “unofficial off-leash area,” but this is not technically allowed and the field is not fenced.
Pemberwick park is our “home park.” We live a short walk away visit it frequently. The main portion of the park is comprised of a large baseball and soccer field adjacent to an enclosed basketball and tennis courts.
The charm of this park are its less visited trails and large meadow. As mentioned in the notes, the meadow located in the back of the park, past the playground along Pemberwick Road, is the local unofficial off-leash dog park. Many nearby residents take their dogs their early in the morning for a quick run. It’s important to note however that the only fence is along the busy road and it is in very poor shape with many breaks. If you intend to let your dog run here, please be sure you have it under good voice control and it’s common courtesy to use a leash if other people are present.
There are trails that run behind the fields and all the way to Weaver Street where there is a second small park. Despite the modest size (around 8 acres), this little wood is very lovely and quiet with a babbling brook running through the middle.
Greenwich Entrance:
450 Cognewaugh Rd
Cos Cob, CT 06807
Stamford Entrance:
Merribrook Lane
Stamford, CT 06902
Website: https://www.greenwichct.gov/facilities/facility/details/Mianus-River-Natural-Park-19
https://www.stamfordct.gov/city-parks/pages/mianus-river-park
http://www.friendsofmianusriverpark.org/
Activities: Hiking, Walking, Dog Socializing
Last Visit: 2018
Notes: While many people let their dogs off leash in the park, be aware this practice is discouraged and Stamford has a dog warden / police officer that regularly patrols the park issuing warnings and tickets.
Nestled on the Greenwich-Stamford border just below the Merritt Parkway, the trio of parks (Greenwich, Stamford and State owned) together make up one of the largest wilderness spaces in the area. There are nearly 400 acres filled with a variety of trails – from wide carriage roads to narrow hiking paths. There is a little something for everyone… which means dogs owners should be extra careful as they are sharing the park with hikers, mountain bikers and the occasional horseback rider!
If you plan on exploring more than just the carriage roads, bring sturdy boots as some of the trails can get quite muddy in the spring. Also, don’t forget the bug repellent as the lowlands are a bit marshy.
290 Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830
Website: https://www.greenwichct.gov/facilities/facility/details/Havemeyer-Field-Greenwich-Common-15
Activities: Walking, Dog Socializing
Last Visit: 2020
Notes: I recommend parking in the “Benedict South Lot” on the corner of Benedict Pl. and Lewis St. towards the top of The Avenue. There is no charge for parking after 5PM and on Sundays.
“Walking The Aveneue” is one of my favorite winter-time activities with the dog. When the sun sets early and the streets become dangerous or snow-covered, Greenwich Avenue provides a safe and pleasant place to walk… especially around Christmas when the stores and the town decorate the street (budgets permitting).
That’s not to say spring, summer or fall visits shouldn’t be made! Many stores are dog friendly and several even regularly provide water and treats (Orvis and Marmot often have doggy snacks on hand for four-legged visitors). And on warm evenings the avenue is lined with diners eating al fresco, meaning there is often wonderful things for the dogs to sniff at.
Smack in the middle of The Avenue is Greenwich Common, a recently renovated and lovely little park that is joined to Havemeyer Field. The Field is a large ball field with a track surrounding it. Many people let their dogs off-leash in this area, though it is technically not permitted.
Both along the avenue and in the adjoining parks you are destine to run into other friendly dogs and owners. My dog, however, is far more interested in the bunnies that populate St. Mary’s Church yard and Greenwich Common.
If you want a longer walking route, you can easily loop down through Roger Sherman Baldwin Park and walk along the water to the boardwalk behind The Delamar Hotel. If you’re really feeling energetic, walk all the way down Steamboat Road – there is a beautiful (and newly restored) pier at the end.
22 Sound Shore Drive
Greenwich, CTÂ 06830
Website: https://www.greenwichct.gov/facilities/facility/details/Cos-Cob-Park-9
Activities: Walking, dog socializing
Last Visit: 2020
Notes: Dogs should be kept off the turf fields and playgrounds.
This is a beautiful new park with wonderful facilities. A popular destination for dog walkers with great views of the Long Island Sound. Built on the location of an early 20th Century power station for the adjacent railroad (you can read about the history in the restroom pavilion) the town spent a great deal of money remediating and re-purposing the site.
You are likely to run into many other friendly dogs and their owners and you wind your way around the trail that loops the park. Don’t miss Greenwich’s 9/11 memorial which sits atop a tranquil hill overlooking the park and the Sound.
Grass Island Road
Greenwich, CTÂ 06830
Website: https://www.greenwichct.gov/facilities/facility/details/Grass-Island-Dog-Park-12
https://www.greenwichct.gov/facilities/facility/details/Grass-Island-13
Activities: Off leash, dog socializing, dog swimming, walking
Last Visit: 2019
Notes: Please review Dog Park rules here. Keep an eye on your dog – both to pickup waste and to make sure he or she doesn’t start digging. The park is built on top of an artificial berm that was made with construction rubble and trash in the mid-20th Century. Dogs that dig may turn up broken glass, porcelain or re-bar.
The Greenwich Dog Park at Grass Island was our first dog park experience and we have many happy memories here.
Yes, the dog park is dirty.
Yes, the dog park is too small.
Yes, it’s built on top of a literal hill of 50 year old garbage.
Yes, it overlooks the sewage treatment plant (though it rarely smells too bad…)
But this dog park has heart! Most people you meet here are super friendly and sociable. There is also a dedicated group of volunteers that spruces the place up and lobbies the towns for improvements.
There is a large dog and a small dog side. Bags are provided, as is water in the summer (a spigot is located by the front gate) and usually an assortment of balls and toys. There are several benches to sit on inside the dog run.
Behind the dog park are some trails leading down to the water by the boat club. You can walk all the way around the loop that takes you to a scenic point at the tip of the marina. Be careful of fishermen.
Many people take their dogs for a quick dip (to cool off or wash off) after a visit to the dog park. You can either do this in the park area by the boat club or at the boat-launch in the marina.
PS. Remember to bring bug spray in the summer!
PPS. Here’s a tip… can’t get tickets to the Greenwich Town Party? You can get great views from both the Grass Island Marina and the Dog Park!
Binney Park
Old Greenwich, CT
Website: https://www.greenwichct.gov/493/Special-Events-Concerts
Activities: Dog socializing, walking
Last Visit: July, 2019
Notes: Usually held on July 3rd. Like the Summer Concert Series, town recommends against bringing pets – but there doesn’t seem to be a problem with well behaved dogs attending.
Ok, this one might be a little controversial (I did get a rather rude comment from someone one year), but if you know your dog is non-reactive to fireworks, then this can be a great event to attend together.
We learned fairly early on that our pupper is not bothered one bit by fireworks, thunder or the vacuum cleaner – the typical dog phobias (she is, however, terrified of the printer… go figure). We started bringing her to the Binney Park 4th of July fireworks every year.
It’s always a wonderful time, we walk around while the band plays patriotic music and then settle in for the show. We tend to stay towards the back of the park just so the fireworks aren’t right over-head and deafening.
We usually see a few other dogs in attendance, but if your dog prefers human attention over other canines, you can be sure they’ll get plenty.
Again – this is NOT the event for every dog. Be very sure of how your dog will react, take precautions and have a plan before attending. If you have a dog that doesn’t mind the noise and you build in a nice long walk, this is sure to be a good time.
Tods Driftway
Old Greenwich, CT
Website: https://www.greenwichct.gov/facilities/facility/details/Greenwich-Point-Park-69
Activities: Walking, dog swimming, dog socializing, off leash
Last Visit: 2019
Notes: Open to dogs Dec 1 – March 31. Leash required inside the park except on the beach (up to high-water mark). *PARK CLOSED TO DOGS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2019-2020 DOG SEASON DUE TO RACCOON-BASED DISTEMPER OUTBREAK!*
Greenwich Point Park is considered the crown jewel of Greenwich’s parks. 147 acres of beautiful park land with a large beach at one end and walking a path with spectacular views of New York City at the other.
Leash-laws are a controversial issue at the park. There is no question that you must leash your dog inside the park, in the parking lots and on the walking paths, as with any other park in Greenwich. It is not uncommon to see the town’s ACO there, so please be a responsible owner and use a leash anywhere off the beach. On the beach itself is less clear. The town posts signs implying leashes are required, but even when the ACO is there very few people leash their dogs on the sand (below the high-tide mark) and there doesn’t seem to be any enforcement.
One thing to note: on unusually warm weekend days you should expect a large crowd, which can mean running into lots of pups that have been exposed to varying levels of socialization and a similar mix of owners. It’s important to maintain your situational awareness on days like that and don’t expect other dog owners to be monitoring their puppers as closely as maybe they should be. Full disclosure: our dog was bitten there and the owner made great haste to leave the scene, sticking us with a $650 emergency vet bill. That said – we still regularly return!
960 Morehouse Hwy
Fairfield, CT
Website: https://www.fairfieldct.org/openspace/lakemohegan
https://www.facebook.com/groups/207768065991175/
Activities: Dog swimming, hiking, dog socializing, walking, off leash
Last Visit: 2019
Notes: Off leash dogs permitted on trails and in the lake outside of the “100-foot” zones surrounding the parking lots.
This is truly a gem worth the trip. 170 acres of trails surround a brook that flows through a scenic cascade into a beautiful man-made lake. Easily accessible off the Meritt Parkway, you can park at either end of the lake though I recommend the paved lot close to the main beach (dogs not allowed but they do let you use their bathrooms). From there you can access easy paths to the popular dog-spots on the East side of the lake.
There are a few hazards to be aware of. First, the lake gets very deep very quickly (it is an old gravel pit) so be careful where you step. Second, there is a bit of a current – not so much it will sweep a dog away, but I have lost some toys to it. Finally, be careful of surly fishermen (unfortunately I ran into one once) and cut-lures with hooks they sometimes leave behind.
300 Grumman Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06851
Website: https://www.norwalkct.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/1
Activities: Walking, dog socializing, hiking, off leash
Last Visit: 2020
Notes: *There is now a $10 fee for parking.* There is a small off-leash area for dogs but it is unfenced.
This is a lovely park situated right on the Norwalk-Wilton border. It is a fairly big property (220+ acres of trails) surrounding a mansion. The grounds include a disc-golf course, a large lawn and a large network of paths through the surrounding woods.
Playland Parkway
Rye, NY
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/696727267094492/?ref=bookmarks
https://www.townofryeny.com/rye-town-park-and-beach
Activities: Dog swimming, dog socializing, walking
Last Visit: 2019
Notes: Off leash allowed (on beach only), “Dog Season” runs late-September to late-April; check the “Dog Friends of Playland Beach” site for more info.
Playland Beach is one of our favorite winter destinations. Opening in the early fall and closing mid-spring, it has one of the longest dog seasons in the area. It is large, mostly fenced, well maintained and very popular so your pupper will have plenty of friends to play with. Rye Town Park abuts Playland Beach and is lovely to walk around on leash (neighboring Rye Beach is NOT opened to dogs however). Both are easily accessed off I-95 via Playland Parkway.
118 Park Ave
Larchmont, NY 10538
Website: https://larchmontmanorpark.org/index.html
Activities: Walking, dog swimming, dog socializing
Last Visit: 2016
Notes: NOT RECOMMENDED, Parking is on the street.
Larchmont Dog Beach is no longer worth the trip, although the adjacent Manor Park is nice to stroll through with your leashed dog, as is the surrounding neighborhood.
Several years ago Dog Beach was a popular destination – there is a *very* small spit of land (partially fenced but open to the road) with a sandy beach just off the street. At lower tides, a second larger beach was accessible. Sandwiched between two large piers and a tall seawall, it provided a nice spot for the dogs to run and play – however getting their required ignoring some “private property” signs of dubious legality placed there by a nearby beach club.
However, in 2016 social media started spreading more and more accounts of zealous police enforcement and hefty fines for dogs off leash, in the water or beyond the dubious “private property” signs. Apparently the beach clubs were unhappy with dogs in their vicinity and the new mayor was happy to oblige them.
It’s been several years and I don’t know if things have improved, but I no longer recommend people make the trip. Go to Lake Mohegan in Fairfield instead.
