Peekskill Dog Park (at Tompkins Park)

Peekskill, New York is very close to New York City, but it might as well be a world away. The town was founded by Henry Hudson's first mate, Jan Peeck. The town has had a lot of ups and downs in the nearly 400 years since it was first settled, but for much of its existence, its been a small, picturesque town. 

Today, it's still a small town of fewer than 25,000 people but is now a vibrant community that has gone out of its way to attract artists and to re-create itself as an arts center. Peekskill is often described as a great place to live. It is close enough to New York that it is easy to get into an urban environment quickly, but it's far enough out that there's plenty of wide open space and fresh air. Which makes it a great place to have a dog.

The Peekskill Dog Park is as cute as the rest of Peekskill. The park is one acre in size, with a separate enclosure dedicated to small dogs. The park is impeccably maintained by a small army of volunteers. The volunteers organized to get the park created. They do everything from maintaining the six-foot chain link fence to shoveling snow from the park walkway.

The park itself has benches, poop bags, and water fountains. The fountains are turned off in the winter, although the park is open year-round. The park is covered in cedar chips. The dog park is part of Tompkins Park, a lovely suburban park with a baseball diamond, basketball court, an open play field, and a wooded area with a paved trail. 

The Peekskill Dog Park at Tompkins Park is very well-located, in a wooded area, near a babbling creek. You and your dog can explore the rest of the park but your dog will need to be leashed. Peekskill is a great place to get some relief from the city. Thanks to Peekskill Dog Park, your puppy can also get a taste of small-town atmosphere.