Dog Walkers in Red Hook, Brooklyn

Red Hook is historically an industrial neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. It is located only 4 miles south of downtown Manhattan, on the shore of Upper New York Bay, and is one of the only New York neighborhoods with a full-frontal view of the iconic Statue of Liberty. Today, Red Hook is a thriving community with both residential and commercial spaces for you to venture down with your canine companion in tow.

The commercial spaces include a large apartment store, local restaurants, a local whiskey distillery, the Waterfront Museum, a winery, art galleries, a brewery, and the large Red Hook Park and Recreation Center. The residential spaces are typically apartment buildings with a few standalone family homes. If wander in these areas, remember to clean up after your pooch.

Like most of the city, Red Hook will experience all four seasons, embracing hot and humid summers and, sometimes, particularly long and brutal winters.

Red Hook is a mostly flat neighborhood made of largely artificial terrain. Generally, there are only a few greenways or public, grassy areas, and the rest of the neighborhood is composed of sidewalks and concrete. To avoid the plethora of concrete, there are several greenways in the area, including Red Hook Park, Pier 44 Waterfront Garden, and Louis Valentino Jr. Park and Pier. If you're looking for somewhere to hike or somewhere to find more challenging terrain, you may want to explore these greenways fully. 

The boundaries of Red Hook include the Upper New York Bay to the south and west, I-278 to the north, and the smaller Gowanus Canal to the east. As a walker, definitely steer clear of the north boundaries, as you will face more congestion and high-speed traffic. However, other parts of the neighborhood should create a more pedestrian-friendly experience. The neighborhood is named for the hook-like feature that creates the Erie Basin. 

Greenways in Red Hook include Red Hook Park, Pier 44 Waterfront Garden, Louis Valentino Jr. Park and Pier, Coffey Park, and Erie Basin Park. The largest greenway is Red Hook Park, which is home to the Red Hook Recreation Center, sports facilities, a barbecue area, and walking/running trails. Coffey Park, the second largest greenway in Red Hook, also offers sports facilities, walking trails, and general recreation areas. The other, smaller parks are typically on the shoreline and many have piers you and your pup can walk out on to enjoy those NYC-views along the water!

While there are no dog parks or runs in Red Hook, you can find the DiMattina Dog Run immediately north of the neighborhood, past I-278. However, if you're okay with having your pup on his leash for each of your outings, then Red Hook should be able to provide everything that you need.