A Pet-Parent’s Guide to Dog Parks in Philadelphia
I’m looking for dog parks near me….
Looking for the perfect dog park to visit in Philadelphia? Now more than ever, Philly dog parents need ways to stay social while social distancing, and visiting a new dog park or trail is the perfect way to do so. We have connected with Pawsitive parents all over the city to provide you with personal pet-parent perspectives so that you know what to expect when exploring different Philadelphia dog parks with your pup!
Seger Dog Park
1001 Rodman St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Seger Park is located in Center City between Lombard & Rodman Streets from 10th Street to 11th Street. Beyond its dog park, includes play equipment, a water feature, picnic grass, basketball courts, and tennis courts. The Seger Park Dog Owner’s Association (SPDOA) partners with small businesses and local musicians to offer services and community events to foster a sense of community between park-goers and pet-parents.
Dog-Parent Perspective:
“Seger Dog Park in South Philly was the first park Katsu was really comfortable being in. It’s very well maintained and most importantly, the dog owners who visit that park are very attentive and responsible. Also, events, like costume contests, concerts, and other activities for dogs and their fellow humans are held at the park!”
— @hai_katsu
Palmer Doggie Depot
37 E Palmer St, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Palmer Doggie Depot is a free community-run neighborhood park open daily from 6am to 10pm. It is a Fishtown Favorite that includes one large sunny enclosure for pups to play around in!
Dog-Parent Perspective:
“Palmer Doggie Depot is a great local dog park in Fishtown, Philadelphia. It is very popular in the neighborhood and a great dog community. It operates with a volunteer/donation base to keep the dog park maintained!”
–@levithesharpei
Penn’s Landing Dog Park
1 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Complete with a beautiful view of the Delaware River and the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Penn’s Landing Dog Park allows dogs an area to run around off-leash. The park includes a separation between space for large and small dogs, and provides space and community for pups and parents with not much access to green space in the Old City area.
Dog-Parent Perspective:
“I would say that it’s a good no frills dog park. Plenty of space, but it can get pretty dusty. My white dog usually makes a mess of himself and requires a bath after a visit. I wish it were a bit better maintained, as there are many dogs in the area and we don’t have a good dog park. It’s usually empty or maybe one dog in there when I go in the afternoons. I like the location by the Race Street Pier.”
Roxborough Dog Park
4117 Mitchel St, Philadelphia, PA 19128
Roxborough Dog Park includes a fully fenced in and secure area that is separated for large and small dogs. All pet-parents are asked to become a member before visiting Roxborough Dog Park by submitting valid vaccination documentation to ensure that their dogs are spayed or neutered. After approval, members will be assigned a code that grants access into the park.
Dog-Parent Perspective:
“We love Roxborough Dog Park! Really nice pups and owners, and plenty of space to run and play.”
Schuylkill River Park
300 S 25th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Located right on the river, the Schuylkill River Dog Park provides separated space for big and small dogs, and over an acre of room to play. Dogs can also enjoy dog-sized water fountains, fire hydrants, small dog pools, and a hose to clean off messy pups. Beyond the dog park, pups and parents can explore the larger Schuylkill River Park as long as they remain on a leash. The park includes spacious lawns, a community garden, restrooms, sport courts, and a trail for hikes along the river.
Dog-Parent Perspective:
Schuylkill River Park is a fantastic park for the Rittenhouse and Fitler Square neighborhoods. Right along the Schuylkill River Trail, the parks features two dog parks — one for smaller dogs and one for medium and larger dogs. Both dog parks are well maintained with swimming pools, water bowls, and plenty of balls to play fetch, and the pet parents are all extremely friendly and playful. The rest of the park is perfect for the entire family with large areas of grass, basketball and tennis courts, and multiple playgrounds. Going this this park is truly the highlight of the day for me and my fur baby, Chopper!
Pennypack Park
Pennypack Trail, Philadelphia, PA 19136
Pennypack Park stretches nine miles and covers more than 1,600 acres of woodlands, meadows, and fields following Pennypack Creek. This city park’s unpaved trails are great for hiking, biking, running and horseback riding. Pennypack was previously an unused railroad corridor and is now a great place to explore trails and creeks with pets.
Dog-Parent Perspective:
“Pennypack Trail is a great place to take your dog for a stroll, especially if they love the water! The trail is very long and can be accessed from many points, but all of it runs along the creek and has paths many offshoots down to the water. You might see other people, dogs, and horses along the trail, but due to its length, it’s never too crowded. The trail is decently shaded, and the water is the perfect depth and speed for pups to romp in!”
Tacony Creek Park
1001–1255 E Cayuga St, Philadelphia, PA 19124
Tacony Creek runs through Northeast Philadelphia and Tacony Creek Park features a 3.2 mile long trail for pets and parents to enjoy for beautiful views and sounds of flowing water. Pups may encounter cyclists, joggers, and other walkers on the trail, which can be accessed from the parking lot or one of the 10 neighborhood access points.
Dog-Parent Perspective:
“[My dog] loves this park because she gets to be a dog. She walks through the mud and the creek. She gets lost in the pure nature of that park. I love it because it’s like an oasis in the city.”
Fairmount Park
Reservoir Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19119
At 2,052 acres, Fairmount Park is the largest municipal park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the historic name for a group of parks located throughout the city. Fairmount Park consists of two park sections named East Park and West Park, divided by the Schuylkill River. Beyond its incredible dog-friendly trails and views of the city, Fairmount Park is home to iconic Philly sites such as the Schuylkill River Trail and its Boathouse Row, the Philadelphia Art Museum, Strawberry Mansion Reservoir, Smith Memorial Playground, the Lemon Hill estate, Please Touch Museum, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, the Horticulture Center, Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, Concourse Lake, and much more.
Dog-Parent Perspective:
“Fairmount park is awesome! We go their often after we go on the Schuylkill River trail/MLK loop. We love the view of the art museum from Lemon Hill!”
— @banksy_pup
Rolling Hill Park
1201 Rose Glen Rd, Gladwyne, PA 19035
Rolling Hill Park is located right outside of the city of Philadelphia in Gladwyne, PA and features both on and off-leash trails and fenced play areas. Rolling Hill’s trails allow dogs to explore through thick woods, open meadows, historic ruins, and a creek to play in. Lower Merion District currently requires pets to obtain a PA Dog License and Off-Leash Dog Permit before visiting Rolling Hill Park’s Fenced Area!
Dog-Parent Perspective:
Our girls love Rolling Hill! It is easy to get to, right outside of the city with ample parking. Once there, you can choose to let your dogs run free in the large dog park which has a giant green space. The dog park is always kept up nice and clean. Once your pups get their energy out, you could proceed on a hike on one of several trails. I believe trails are off-leash friendly and they lead to a creek that pups can wade or swim in! It is one of our favorite spots to take the pups and highly recommend!
— @danydoodle
Blue Bell Park
842 W Walnut Ln, Philadelphia, PA 19144
Located in Philadelphia’s Blue Bell Hill neighborhood, Blue Bell Park includes a large grassy park perfect for dogs and dogs parents to run and play. Visitors have access to a pavilion with restrooms ball fields, and trails. Rittenhouse Town can be accessed through Blue Bell Park’s wooded trails to connect to Wissahickon Valley Park and Forbidden Drive for those seeking longer dog walks.
Dog-Parent Perspective:
“We love the open space for all the running and fetching! Also there have been many fun doggo friends we have met while playing there! The opportunities are endless with the trails right next to the park too!”
Bartram’s Garden
5400 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19143
Bartram’s Garden is the oldest surviving garden in America and the former home of botanist John Bartram. This historic site is dog-friendly — leashed dogs are welcome everywhere on the 46 acre plot except the historic 8 acre core of the garden marked by wooden fences. The grounds of Bartram’s Garden include forests, wetlands, meadows, and a beautiful view of the Philadelphia skyline for dogs and their humans to explore and enjoy.
Dog-Parent Perspectives:
“Bartrum’s Garden is a wonderful place to get some fresh air and explore with your pup. During the pandemic, it has been one of our “go to” spots here in Philly. It is so easy to practice social distancing with it’s nice, wide trail and open spaces. Marley loves leaping through the tall grass, sniffing all the fresh smells or having a simple picnic in the park. We do come across a tick or two at times, so make sure to have your pup on preventatives.”
“Bartram’s Garden? More like Bark-tram’s Garden! 🐶🐾🙃 But in all seriousness, the Garden offers numerous open fields that are great for dogs to run around in. While they are not enclosed, the garden is so large that it’s rarely crowded. In addition, there are numerous woodsy trails that extend onto the banks of the river. What more could a good boy need?”
“It’s a great place close by to get away from pavement with your pup. Small trails you can explore and tons of plant life to discover.”
— @qui_shit
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