Marsha P. Johnson State Park Dog Run - Brooklyn, NY
Marsha P. Johnson State Park Dog Run – A Unique Brooklyn Dog Park
Located in the heart of Williamsburg along the East River, the Marsha P. Johnson State Park Dog Run is a standout dog park in Brooklyn, New York. This pet-friendly space provides a welcoming spot for local dog owners who appreciate its cleanliness, wheelchair accessibility, and stunning views of the city skyline. The park is especially notable for its environmentally conscious approach: instead of traditional grass or mulch, the surface is covered with pebbles, designed as a "doggie litter box" where owners use rakes to compost dog poop, helping keep the park eco-friendly and mud-free—even after rain.
With separate areas for small and large dogs and ample seating, this dog run offers comfortable spaces for pups and their owners to socialize. There are water fountains for both humans and pets, and the park is known for its friendly community of regular visitors. Although the rocks can make it tricky for some dogs to run freely and there isn’t much natural shade or covered shelter, the park makes up for it with cleanliness and a unique experience right on the Brooklyn waterfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed off-leash in the designated area.
- Is there a fenced area for dogs? Yes, the dog run is fenced for safety.
- Is there a separate area for small and large dogs? Yes, there are separate sections for small and large dogs.
- Are there water fountains or bowls for dogs? Yes, there is a water fountain for both humans and dogs.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, the park has a wheelchair accessible entrance.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? Yes, the park is noted for being cleaner than most and has composting bins for dog waste.
- Is there shade or shelter available? There is limited natural shade and little or no covered shelter, so plan accordingly.
- Are there benches or seating areas for owners? Yes, the park offers ample seating.
- Is the park muddy after it rains? No, the pebble surface helps keep the park mud-free, even on rainy days.
Reviews
The small dog park is great, even though the pebble stones make my dog quite dirty and rusty. But the other small dogs who come are great!
The big dog park is a little scary – twice I have noticed pretty bad dog fights, after both of which one of the dogs was left bleeding. Be careful!
My dog likes this park, but is not fond of the rocks getting in his paws so he doesn’t really Run much. I would say it’s more of a dog “hang” than a run! View of the city is incredible.
I love this park because they compost the dog poop! I don’t know of another dog park that does that. This dog park was designed as one giant, doggie litter box. The pebbles are supposed to be litter, and there are rakes for you to scoop poop to deposit directly into the bins. It’s less convenient than just picking it up with a bag (plastic doesn’t decompose in landfills!), but this is a pretty cool concept and super environment friendly! One downside is that it makes it hard for dogs to run at full speed, but my pup still enjoys it. I go at odd hours so I only ever run into a few other dogs at most, but they’re always friendly.
Edit: I appreciate the pebbles especially during rainy days since most other dog parks get muddy. Also pretty cool it was renamed!
We love this park! During quarantine it was the only one in the area that remained opened since it’s part of the state park and therefore not a city-run dog park. The rocks may throw off some dogs who don’t like running on that surface, but it’s clean with ample seating and a water fountain for humans and dogs. There’s also a little small dog/puppy section.
Good park, cleaner than most. Wish there was more shade cover for the summer months. Also find it bizarre that it doesn’t open until 9am considering most dog owners are out with their dogs much earlier and before they need to be at work.