Dog walking in Oceanside

Southern Oceanside

The Southern Oceanside neighborhood, and most of Oceanside, NY, was once made up of swamplands, but during the early nineteenth century, the area was drained. Today, the Marine Nature Study Area is a preserve that helps to keep the remaining swampland intact. The preserve is dog-friendly, but dogs must remain on a leash that's 6 feet or shorter at all times within its borders. It's a small price to pay for access to the long trail that winds through the preserve, as well as other nature trails and metal paths that are elevated above the swamplands. Travel far enough, and you'll find a trail leading to a dog-friendly beach, where Fido can enjoy some time in the sun and water. Humans must come prepared with clean-up bags and water before entering the preserve.

East Rockaway Village Center

The East Rockaway Village Center neighborhood is the westside neighbor of Oceanside, and only .5-miles away in the town of East Rockaway. With two different dog parks, it's sure to become a favorite area for your pup. East Rockaway Bay Bark Park is a dog run with two separate areas for larger and smaller dogs, both with double gated fences, clean-up stations, and water fountains, and is located near the ballfield of Bay Park. To the north, you'll find a second dog park, the Bay Park Dog Park. This pawsome find features a vast fenced-in area for off-leash play, with a mixture of grass and sand terrain, and little pools for dogs to play in. Owners have benches to sit on and clean-up stations to use when needed.

Rockville Village Center

The Rockville Village Center neighborhood is in Rockville Centre, a town only a mile north of Oceanside. Residents of Oceanside usually flock here for the Morgan Days Park, a tranquil area with a recreational field, basketball courts, dense woods and a swampy pond. Dogs of all shapes and sizes are allowed into the park, as long as they remain on a leash. They are welcome to play fetch or to run around in the open fields or take a nature hike into the woods around the pond. There are benches and trash bins provided by the park.

Baldwin Harbor

The Baldwin Harbor neighborhood is across the Parsonage Cove from Oceanside in the town of Baldwin. Only two miles away, Baldwin Park provides an out-of-town activity for dog-lovers that still sits close to home. The park is over 35 acres of land with recreational areas, ballfields, and soccer fields. The dog-friendly place has about a mile and a half of walking trails which allows all leashed-dogs to get the exercise they need. Heading south into the paths leads outside the park and into the Baldwin Harbor swamps and beach, a dog-friendly area that allows Fido some time in the water and stretches his fins.

West Hempstead

Hempstead Lake State Park is a valuable resource to dog-walkers everywhere. About five miles north of Oceanside, this 737-acre park is in the West Hempstead neighborhood of Hempstead, and is dog-friendly, allowing dogs on the over 8 miles of the park's trails. There is even a designated dog area at South Pond, an open field surrounded by towering trees. Dogs must remain on a leash shorter than six feet while inside the park. While dogs have access to the waterfront of South Pond, they are not allowed in any picnic areas or buildings. Additional park features include water fountains, trash bins, and benches.