Ward Acres Park - New Rochelle, NY
Ward Acres Park: An Expansive Dog Park in New Rochelle, NY
Ward Acres Park offers dog owners a unique blend of spacious pet-friendly trails and wooded areas in New Rochelle, New York. Sprawling across 65 acres, this park features a massive 5-acre fenced dog area—one of the largest in the region—where dogs can safely run off-leash and socialize. Unlike typical city parks, Ward Acres preserves its historic, woodland character, with scenic hiking paths, meadows, stone walls, and remnants of its past as a family estate and farm, making it perfect for dog-friendly hiking adventures.
Visitors and their pups can enjoy ample room to roam, a welcoming community of local dog owners, and plenty of open space year-round. The park requires a permit obtainable from New Rochelle city hall, with modest fees for both residents and non-residents. Parking is plentiful, and the area is popular even during less busy midweek hours, making Ward Acres Park a top choice for dog lovers seeking a pet-friendly outdoor experience in Westchester County.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed off-leash within the designated 5-acre fenced area.
- Is there a fenced area for dogs? Yes, Ward Acres features a large 5-acre fenced dog park.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the park has extensive pet-friendly trails and woods for hiking with your dog.
- Is there a fee or membership required to enter? Yes, both residents and non-residents need to obtain a paid permit from New Rochelle city hall to use the dog park.
- Is the park open year-round? Yes, the park is open year-round, though it may get muddy after heavy rain or during winter thaws.
- Is there shade or shelter available? Yes, the park has wooded areas and meadows that offer natural shade.
- Is there parking available? Yes, there is plenty of parking available for park visitors.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? Yes, reviews note that owners are good about cleaning up after their dogs and the area is generally clean.
- Is the park muddy after it rains? Yes, the open fields can become muddy after rain, especially in winter and spring.
Reviews
Ward acres is 65 acre combination hiking trails, fenced in 5 acre dog park, and community garden. It used to be a farm and it still retains that feeling with quaint stone walls and the old barn. Dog walkers need to obtain a permit with New Rochelle city hall. Both Residents and non-residents need to pay. It is an absolute treasure for everyone that we have this open park-trail system. Nala and I go almost every day!
The Park is very Large and Dogs have Plenty of room to run around and play. Its Clean, and there is plenty of parking. Unfortunately, by time we got there it was pouring and the Field turned into a Mud Swamp with Ice. Sprinkle, Summer Fall you will find it much busier.
Great time at the paws place park at ward acres, lots of space for dogs to run around, way more space than typical dog parks
Largest dog park by far! Owners are good about cleaning up after their dogs. There always seems to be a good group of dogs here even at off times like the middle of a day on a Wednesday. Not too sure if they actually enforce the permit as I have been there quite a few times and never seen anyone doing so.
Ward Acres is not your normal city park, it has more of a woods feel to it. Eventhough the park area was a house with huge grounds in the 20th Century, the city of New Rochelle has not invested in the park itself, rather let it become a wood with trails, with some meadow areas in the centre. All that is fine for the visitors who relish a walk in the woods with their pets and can roam for quite a long time in this mid-sized area.