At the very southernmost tip of the State of New York lies the town of New Castle, a green community with plenty of outdoor space despite its location only 30 miles north of New York City. Dogs are welcome at many of the parks in the area, including Gedney Park, a 126-acre network of trails and open space where you and your dog can roam off-leash during the posted hours.
Most people who frequent the park utilize the trail system, all of which are open to dogs as well. The hours of the park are dawn to dusk, but dogs are only allowed to run off-leash from dawn until 10:30 PM on all days except Saturday, where they can only be off-leash until 8:00 PM. All hours of the day, dogs are welcome on the trails on a leash, although dogs are not permitted at the playgrounds or baseball field.Â
There are over four miles of trail to explore, so you will not grow tired of walking along new creeks, underneath shady trees, or through mossy fern groves. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference maintains Gedney Park. Those who frequent the park note that the trails are always well-kept. It is important that you bring your own poop bags so that you can preserve the trail’s cleanliness after your dog does its business.Â
If your dog likes to swim, it is perfectly acceptable to allow your dog to swim during posted off-leash hours, just be aware that there are fish and turtles in some of the park’s many ponds. There are restrooms for you at the park, but not much else in the way of facilities, so you will need to bring your own water and come prepared if you and Fido are planning on hiking.Â
The Gedney Park Off-Leash Dog Area offers a beautiful picture of natural east coast fauna and flora, and whether you live in the area or are simply passing through, you and your dog will both marvel at the natural wonders that the park has to offer! So, what are you waiting for? Grab your dog and leash and head on out to the Gedney Park Off-Leash Dog Area and enjoy the day.