5 Best Dog Parks in Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the U.S. The home of the historic Liberty Bell provides its 350,000 fur babies with pawsome, pup-friendly parks and establishments, and opportunities for on-leash walking and playing all over town. Dog-friendly parks like Fairview Park welcome leashed dogs, and New Jersey just across the Delaware River boasts dog-friendly beaches such as Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park where puppers can play on a leash during the off-season, November to March.

For city doggos who yearn to socialize and get some exercise without a tether, Philly hosts several pawsome, off-leash dog parks and the number is growing! We’ve found what we think are five of the best ones you and your fur-baby will return to time after time!

Neighborhoods: Northern Liberties, Fishtown

Orianna Hill Park is a membership-based neighborhood puppy playground. Its open, L-shaped, one-acre play area is accessed via two security gates and is bounded by fencing tall enough to thwart the highest jumper or climber. This is truly a neighborhood-run park where volunteers provide maintenance and plan furbulous holiday events with pooches at their center!

While anyone can join, fur babies need to be registered to enter. Registration is free and can be done online. The Friends of Orianna Hill Park request a voluntary $50 annual donation to support the park’s upkeep. 

Once inside, puppers find a paw-friendly, fast-drying wood chip surface and numerous features like huge tires for playing on or even just taking a nap. Painted wooden stairs and platforms, along with bright orange traffic cones and barrels keep the play interesting and fun. Humans can rest on benches or at the picnic table while their pups cavort, with a view of the park’s colorful tiled mural wall. Mulberry trees provide ample shade, and the berries are safe for Fido to munch on, in moderation. This park is a one-stop puppadise for friendly, active fur babies!

Neighborhood: Old City

On the east side of Philadelphia, alongside the beautiful, mighty Delaware River and adjacent to the pawsome, dog-fur-eindly Delaware River Trail lies the Penn’s Landing Dog Park.  Whether it’s the park's puptacular river views and sounds, the small and large dog sections, or the long running space, Penn’s Landing is sure to please! A water source and doggy clean-up bags make this pup park a pawfect place to visit!

There are so many large shade trees in this park, getting a tan isn’t one of the perks, but you also won’t have to worry about canine sunburn. For committed sun-worshipers, the small dog play area is the sunnier of the two. With plenty of parking close by, there’s no need for a long trek. If you haven’t rewarded your fur baby with a romp at Penn’s Landing, now’s the time to get over there!

Neighborhood: Center City

Perched on the east side of the Schuylkill River running through Philadelphia, the Schuylkill River Dog Park has been called the fanciest pup playground in town. From its K-9 Turf Grass that keeps doggos mud-free, to the people-friendly, shaded stone-paved area dotted with benches, a water fountain, and both small and large pup sections, Philadelphia’s Frou-frou Fidos and their parents love this park! It even provides doggy pools during Philadelphia’s steamy summer, and biodegradable clean-up bags! 

Train tracks run nearby and the engineers love to say hi with blasts from their horns. If your doggo startles easily, it may be best to consider a different park or work on training to ignore loud noises before you come. For those who stay, there’s plenty of room for running, fetching, and rolling. Pooches will find loads of canine friends and humans who love petting and playing! 

Neighborhood: Roxborough

Roxborough Dog Park is maintained by members of the community's nonprofit dog park association and is the place your pup wants to be! Puppers must be registered to play in this large park, and the annual donation is earmarked to support it and add amenities. The park’s artificial grass, soil, and trees provide a natural setting while ensuring comfort for the doggos and their humans. 

This fave play space has all the most-needed amenities, including water, waste bags, toys, and tons of tennis balls! Lawn chairs are placed around the safety fence so pup parents can relax and enjoy the fun while meeting old and new friends. There’s plenty of free street parking in this residential neighborhood so the walk from the car is short, but remember Fido needs to be on a leash until they enter the park.

The park association is committed to keeping the park clean and safe, and has provided trash and recycling bins for immediate disposal. Your canine chums will have a tail-wagging blast at this park while they socialize and work off some of their extra energy! Stop in soon!

Neighborhood: South Philly/Washington Square West

While Seger Park Dog Park may not get a prize for the “biggest dog park” in Philadelphia, it’s definitely one of the best! Equipped with amenities that will make them smile, this park, like others in Philadelphia, was conceived and built by neighborhood residents who saw a need for a place for dogs to play sans leash. 

Divided into large and small dog areas to keep all the pupsters safe, both sections are lined with attractive artificial turf and wood chips, with paved paths and low stone walls in the shade for human walking and sitting. Biodegradable waste bags and trash bins make it easy and environmentally responsible to pick up after the pooches. The water fountain keeps the pups hydrated, and there’s even a sprinkler to keep everyone cool on those tropic-like summer days.

Every year, the Seger Dog Park Association offers fun events for doggos and their parents. These include Howl-o-ween, Santa Paws, and a Woofstock music event. Costumes, music, food and drink, and plenty of celebrating are always part of these furtastic events. If you’re in the South Philly/Washington Square West neighborhood, be sure to stop in and see what all the tail-wagging is about!

Like most metropolitan cities, Philadelphia has rules that ensure the safety of dogs in parks, especially dog parks. The pup parents’ comfort is also taken into account. We’ve collected some of the most impawtant rules and petiquette tips to keep in mind when visiting:

• Dogs must be leashed in all park areas except those dedicated to off-leash play
• Pick up after your dog and dispose of the bags in a trash bin. 
• Make sure your dog is licensed and has been vaccinated, for rabies and all other illnesses
• Look for park signs that may add restrictions or rules in addition to the city-wide rules
• Keep control of your dog with voice and other commands 
• Curb un-mannerly behavior like jumping on people, or being aggressive to dogs and humans
• Keep un-altered dogs and puppies less than 4 months old at home 
• Curb excessive barking. If necessary, remove your dog