We live closer now so we are starting to utilise the dog runs way more frequently. As most have stated: it's just dirt and wood chips so your dog WILL get dirty. Either way, I don't mind because the dogs that come here are usually really sweet and they play well. I haven't had an issue with any of them being overly aggressive. There is a smaller sized dog run and a larger sized dog run: both are open to dogs of all sizes. The larger size dog run has more benches and seating. For some reason, people leave extra balls, toys laying around for neighbours and there are always water bowls. Bring water for your dogs though (this is why it's minus one star) because there's no running water. While we're not super far from McGolrick, which I've heard has a fancier dog run, this does well because the neighbourhood dogs are so friendly! read more

McCarren Park Dog Run - My dog, Kaia, at the smaller sized dog run, taken by her dog sitter - Dog Parks Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My favorite dog run even when it rains they all cover with mud. Good thing about this park is the dog run is big and so many people bring their dog here, so my dog has a plenty of friends to play with. I wish the park has a water fountain like another new park around. read more

See all

Thanks so much for having a dog park! I hope the northern end of Greenpoint will get a dog park soon! If you agree, please visit www.change.org and sign the petition "Create a New Dog Park on the Northern End of Greenpoint". Thank you so much! read more

One of the better runs found in Brooklyn, However, the upkeep seems to be lacking a little. There are holes as expected and the benches are aged stumps. Despite that my dog is always able to find fun pups to mingle with. It's also in a prime spot, total convenience. read more

This is like a small piece of park, next to McCarren Park. Has a few picnic tables and two dog runs, one for small dogs and the other for large dogs. I have a small doggie baby, as you know. We don't take her to doggie parks, not sure why, I guess its because we are over protective???.....lol We were driving by one day and saw the little dogs having a good time, so we decided to bring my Gia. Parking is okay, found a spot across the street, in between McCarren Park and the dog park. There were only a couple of dogs when we arrived. Clean, nice size, but a little on the small side, the had tennis balls and water for there guest, and a couple of benches for parents. Lots of mulch was put down, didn't see an poop ,messes. Owners were really friendly and were def paying attention to there dogs. My Gia like it, but all the dogs she met (including herself), seemed to want to keep to themselves. Guess you cant blame the place for that....lol Gia cant wait to come back here! FYI....McCarren Park has lots of fun stuff for humans also!! They even have a pool and a skate park. read more

See all

I spent about 2 and a half hours at this dog run today with my husky, Niña. I don't live in the area, but I came while I waited while my car was getting work done. This place is perfect for both big and small dogs, lots of space to run around in and most importantly everyone there was friendly and actually took care of their dog! It was great! I met a bunch of really nice people and hope to come here once a week! Love that there is a nice little dog store right across the street - I bought a nifty collapsable bowl from them and they even filled it up with water for me. The space was clean, and there's lots of lawns chairs and picnic tables in the shade for the owners to relax in. Will definitely be going back! read more

McCarren Park Dog Run - The large dog run - Dog Parks Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

Bleh....the dirt and chip ground is disappointing and my feet and pup are covered in grime. The small dog pen is just that....small and some of the owners need socialization,I wont blame the dogs for that,they need more guidance and direction. Had to leave when a wild pup would not stop trying to deflower everyone in sight Control your loved ones please, not fair the rest of our dogs can't enjoy playtime because your to busy on the phone. read more

McCarren Park Dog Run - Dog Parks Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Forget about the dogs. It is here that one can observe that other sometimes furry, but always curious creature who is not a best friend to all men but is loyal to all things art and eccentricity. You know what I'm talking about! The Brooklyn Hipster. They are certainly just as intriguing to watch as the adorable small and large canines. If you're thinking about a tattoo, this is also a good place to go and get ideas right from the hipster's mouth - or their arms or legs or something. I saw an electrical outlet on one lower tricep that I found quite intriguing. Definitely a good way to spend some time and be entertained. If we're just talking about dogs, Wishbone was definitely my favorite pet of the day. He was a stout Jack Russell terrier mix who had startling blue eyes and the demeanor of Lou Grant from the Mary Tyler Moore show. Wishbone waddled around the dog park and it seemed as though his enthusiastic owner was instructed by the doctor to "Take Wishbone out, let him see friends and get some exercise," you know, like a grandpa. As soon as a new pet owner would open the gate of the dog park, Wishbone's owner would yell: "Wishbone, come on, hurry! Go see your friends!" It was as though Wishbone understood. He would start huffing and puffing over to his "friends," but by the time he got four feet in, the other spryer chihuahua and pomeranian pals (yes, this is in the small dog park) would take off and jet across the run to pee in the water bowl or dig a hole, leaving poor Wishbone in the dust. Wishbone looked sort of perplexed but he would turn around and head in the opposite direction to try to find them....or he would give up and just chill by himself. Inevitably, another pet owner would throw a tennis ball across the small dog park. Wishbone's owner took this as another opportunity to get her little guy involved and inspired. She would scream: WISHBONE!! Go, GET THE BALL! HURRY! Wishbone would look around the park, sort of in the direction of the ball. Maybe he would even take a step. Mostly, however, he looked utterly confused and, I mean, honestly, who could blame him? He certainly couldn't HURRY anywhere. He lost that ability 35 dog years ago. After the fourth or fifth time of hearing this one sided interaction between pet owner and Wishbone, I couldn't keep a straight face. Wishbone's the best. I'm thoroughly disappointed that I didn't take a picture of him to post here. I hope I can visit again to glimpse into those piercing blue eyes. read more

I really love McCarren Park. Here, you get prim (but trim!) patches of verdant grass, high school football teams and Saturday morning soccer practice in fall; a brisk walk or jogging path (that won't serve any real runners, but is great for us nighttime couch potatoes); a small farmer's market; and even a size-segregated "dog run" (read: dirt-patch) where your pooch can socialize off-leash. Bringer beware though - because, unfortunately, not every dog owner is a responsible pack leader, and I've seen fights erupt among over-aggressive animals. For the most part, though (I come about once a week), the canines are polite, and get along. Petite pooches have a separate run - but it's an even muddier mosh pit than the main event. On that note, don't wear your best threads - the tanbark and soil (no grass or concrete here) will sully your socks, and dogs will place paws onto your pants. read more

A poem for the McCarren Park Dog Run: I love you McCarren For the way you recognize That a good dog park should always Be separated by size. My little pooch loves to frolic But weighs just 10 pounds And in bigger dog parks He gets bullied around. Here at McCarren, He runs in circles, without fear! For though there are tons of new friends There are no big dogs here. Though it's meant for smaller pups, There's still plenty of space For tossing around a frisbee Or having a nice chase. The park loses one star, Because I fear I must admit That like any dog park It smells like sh*t. read more

This is about the crappiest dog run I've been to; with its chips-and-dirt surface, you get mud, you get puddles, and you get ice when temperatures are freezing. The people are very sociable; this is an affluent part of Williamsburg with a good mix of people and dogs of all breeds. To tell you the truth, I don't see a lot of people using the small dog run, but it's there. When I was last there, I heard they might be re-surfacing it soon, which would be great, but it might just be a rumor; we'll see. read more

I'm surprised i'm the first to post a review on this place, it is a very popular destination for dog owners in the area. The run is wood chips and dirt, and there are some really nice trees that give the area good shade. The new park lights on the soccer field give some extra light to the run at night, but the two little street lights need to be replaced with more powerful lights. Also the run desperately needs it's own water source. There is also a separate small dog run and some benches for people to sit on and dogs to jump around. Unlike Tompkins Square, the run does not discourage against bringing toys into the run, so there are plenty of balls and ropes for the dogs to play with. Very, very rarely have I seen it cause a problem. The dog park organization does a fantastic job organizing clean ups, more people should help out. Most people that come here are very nice and do a good job watching their dogs and keeping them out of trouble. Of course, there will always be some bad apples who talk on their cell phone and pretend like they didn't see their dog dropping a deuce in the corner so they don't have to pick it up. Summer time weekends are PACKED from late morning till dusk. I don't know where people keep all these dogs during the winter. But when I'm out there freezing my butt off while my dog runs around, those people certainly aren't there. Weekend mornings are the best time to visit the dog run. read more

From the outside, this looks like a nice little park to take your dogs. There's a large dog run and a small one. I have a 65lb golden retriever, so we are strictly relegated to the large dog run. The run does not have running water, but they do have large jugs of water and bowls available for the pups. There's also plenty of seating for dog owners, and an abundance of balls for the dogs. Extremely convenient location. That said, I just can't recommend the park because of all the irresponsible dog owners. I've seen numerous dog attacks and just general carelessness from dog owners. Worst of all, my dog contracted kennel cough here (yes, she's fully vaccinated), and was hacking her lungs out for almost a week. It cost me $400 at the vet. We have since sworn the place off. read more

I go to this park almost every day. It's great. It's on the smaller side but there's plenty of space. No water which sucks but what are you gonna do? The people are always great and the dogs are always great. I haven't had a problem with either yet (and that's a first). Great neighborhood dog park. read more

Where I live in Greenpoint, I'm lucky enough to have two local options for my puppy when it comes to trips to the dog park - McCarren Park's dog run and McGolrick Park's dog run. Of the two, I much prefer McGolrick, and here's why: - A bigger space, less crowded and distracting, so the pups can socialize and play - The ground is covered in sticks and wood chips, so your dog doesn't get too terribly filthy (unless they're like mine and dig holes ferociously anyway) - Right next door to a specialty pet shop called District Dog, who are kind of enough to allow you to refill water bottles for the dogs there - Most importantly, the pet owners who go there. At McCarren I constantly feel like I'm like a parent who's not in the clique - everyone congregates on the same bench, sipping their coffee, while I'm sitting in the corner feeling a bit ostracized. I think my dog feels the same way, because she constantly tries to escape through the gate whenever someone enters/exits, which she doesn't do at McGolrick. McGolrick's not perfect either - I've found quite a few beer bottles, pen caps and other dog-unfriendly items lying around inside the run, but it's definitely the preferred dog local dog park of me and my puppy. read more

A great place to take your dog. But not always, only when the right dog owners are there. I have a large 80 pound puppy who's pretty submissive. We have her trained well, she comes when she's called, and leaves it when we say so. She loves to run around and play when given the chance but is easily bullied by other dogs. There are a couple of dog owners here who are completely retarded, young college hipster kids who have never owned a dog in their life who have no idea what they're freakin' doing. They have no control over their animals whatsoever. My dog has been bit here, one time she was lying by me, chilling out after running around, and another dog came over tackled her and bit her right on the cheek for no reason at all, and this dog was doing this the whole time. I picked my dog up and left at this point as he was still getting attacked and was trying to run and hide, and the owner didn't even call his dog off and only said sorry after another woman told him off about his crazy ass dog and it was a half ass apology at best. Seriously people, get your rescue dogs into socialization classes or training classes first before you decide to randomly bring them to the dog park. You're not doing you or your dog a favor by bringing them into the dog park unprepared. read more

I always go to the small dog park since my puparoo is 4 pounds. The people and dogs are usually fairly well behaved. There is always butt sniffing galore! As with all dog runs, keep alert and keep an eye on your dog. Oooh and aaaah at all the cutesy Brooklyn dogs. Bring poop bags (which I would think you would have since you are out with your dog anyway). It's fun and free and it makes my dog happy. Not much to complain about. read more

This is one of the best dog runs in the area (far better than McCarren or Cooper.) It is well-maintained and fairly big for Brooklyn. There is not usually water, which I wish we could figure out how to fix that, but that would be my only complaint. It can get crowded on the weekends or after typical work hours, but it's never so crowded it's not enjoyable. read more

I love animals and luckily my girlfriend has a dog. Sometimes we'll take him here so he can run around. He's a 7-pound yorkie, but he prefers the big dog area. The area for smaller dogs is usually pretty empty and not as poppin' as the big area. I just like being able to see all the different dogs and like petting them. My girlfriend thinks I'm like a little kid at the dog park, trying to pet all the dogs. read more

Pros: nice people, sweet dogs Cons: small, crowded, poorly fenced (my pup has escaped), and not a fan of the dirt/mulch read more

Dirtiest park in all of Brooklyn!!! Come here if you want your dog covered in mud!! I LOATH bringing my dog here and taking him back to my luxury condo. 100% of the time I bring my lil pup pup here I have to give him a bath immediately afterwards, so as to not get my tiger skin rug stained. J/k hahaha the dog does get dirty tho! (l m a o) read more

Not one of Brooklyn's best dog runs....by with some upgrades it could be one of the better ones. Things it has going for it: - Separate large & small dog runs in separate areas - Good fencing - Plenty of shade - Adequate gates,entry area & seating Things it has against it: - No dedicated dog drinking fountain - No bathrooms for humans near run - Wood chip ground cover but not enough put down, a lot of exposed dirt. - No poop bags, but has an empty dispensers Only reason it got 2 stars is because fencing and separate runs. Bring in dedicated water and better ground cover would make it a 3 star run. Area residents and their dogs deserve better than this. Dog runs/parks I have been to so far: http://www.yelp.com/list/nyc-area-dog-parks-runs-new-york-3 read more

Our westie puppy LOVES this dog park. The regulars are key. The woodchips are kid of gross, but it's the only place around. We use the little dog park and it annoys me that the big dog park is always getting fixed up (ie new fence, good gate) They need to pay attention to the little dogs too. read more

My wife and I took our 5 year old 80lb pitbull here today for the first time. I must admit we were kind of nervous as to how some of the other owners would react to him, as he was much larger than all the dogs in the run. As it turns out, all the owners were totally cool, all the dogs were friendly and under control, and he had a great time! The park itself was nice and clean, all owners were respectful and picking up after their four legged friends. There were bowls of water out for the dogs, and a separtate area for people with smaller dogs. My wife and I will be bringing Murphy here daily from now on. read more

Nice dog run with laid-back people who seem to be quite proactive with their dogs. Its pretty large with seating scattered all around. Apart from some really cool dogs, the most amusing thing about this park are the surfeit of rules posted around the fence. I'm not sure if they're meant to be intentionally funny and/or an art installation. You are in Brooklyn, yo. read more

See all

This place is awesome. Great location. Kept up nicely. The people who go there are friendly. I live closer to McGorick so that's my go to but if I lived closer, this is a great one too. Also there's a farmers market near by on the weekends. read more

I've only been in the dog run itself once. That was my first AND my very last. I know most would probably suggest not to get discouraged, but hey, this incident was enough for me. Generally, the dog run is in an ideal location. It has plenty of tug toys available and also has plenty of benches to sit at while your dog plays. It's tucked away in the back where it's a quieter street. There are two dog runs, one for little dogs and one for big dogs. I own a dachshund so they're neither little or big. My dog is very high energy and from what I noticed, all the dogs in the little park were teenie tiny little chihuahuas and/or other mix and pure breeds who were content trotting around to themselves exploring and sniffing around. My dog, on the other hand, will go in there and be ready to run and tumble and rough play. There was absolutely no way I was going to put her in the little dog run for fear of possibly being a nuisance to the other dog owners and/or causing any unnecessary stress on these what looked like, very delicate creatures. So, in the big dog run we went.... Not two seconds in the gate, this very aggressive shiba inu charged at my dog and at first, was just barking at her excessively. I figured, ok, I'm sure he'll let off eventually. Well, he didn't. The owner of this shiba inu (which I later found out, the dog's name is Attila) came over, noticing my dog is clearly in distress, and said "Sorry, he's all talk and no bite." Next thing you know, his dog bit my dog on the butt and on the stomach, although no skin was broken, it was painful enough that it made my dog yelp. She submitted to him as she would in the wild, but he kept at it. I'm not so much appalled at the dog's behavior because he was just being a dog. However, I was absolutely beside myself at how the owner handled the situation. There were no apologies, not for his dog biting mine, or for the fact that his dog ALSO went after me when I tried to leash my dog to leave. He did not restrain his dog at all...he just did this crazy swish swish dismissive hand motion. He didn't even restrain his dog when I was trying to leave! I was outraged! isn't it dog park etiquette that if your dog starts a fight, you should be the one to take yourself out of the situation?! I wasn't objecting to that though, I was more than happy to leave that run. The dogs are a reflection of the owners ability to be their leader, the fact that that guy failed to control his dog, made my entire experience at the McCarren Dog Run completely negative and traumatizing. They are also pretty cliquey there. Everyone seems to know everyone already, which is fantastic, but has the ability to completely alienate newcomers such as myself. I think I should just stick to the park I know and love...McGolrick. read more

The park itself is not bad and for the most part the volunteers, owners and other dogs are cool but a few assholes can ruin it for anyone. Here's an idea: If your dog humps every other dog in sight which leads to growling and snapping, and you're too obese to chase them around and control them, stay the fuck away. I'm sick of you people. read more

There are some really great dogs and owners here, but there are just too many bad ones to make this park pleasant. Some people don't care enough to teach dogs how to play, or correct their behavior when they're acting bad. Some people show up to the dog run , then mentally check out to make phonecalls , send text messages, or read a book. At the McCarren dog run, you're bound to see both those people rolled up into one -- or as they're best put, just plain terrible dog owners. If you bring your dog here, expect a handful of untrained dogs to repeatedly try to hump him/her -- while their owners pretend nothing is going on or just look away the entire time. Expect some dogs to not know how to play, and bite other dogs much harder and longer than they should -- and expect their owners to just not care enough to step in. Expect many dogs to snarl and bark and antagonize people and puppies alike, without their owners bothering to correct. We've met many genuinely great people and dogs here, but the assholes really do ruin this park for everyone else. It's not that I care about my dog being victimized ( he's 70+ pounds and can fend for himself ) -- it's that we spend a lot of time and energy teaching him what is appropriate and what isn't. 15 minutes in this park can ruin weeks of training. Our guy is only 'mouthy' after a short trip to McCarren, but never gets his teeth anywhere near us after playing for hours at the other parks. read more

This is where I bring our dog frequently. Love my hipsters as well, I hate snobby dog owners who don't want their "well-balanced" dogs to play with pits or mutts. This is a very friendly dog park because every dog is pretty much a rescue dog. That's right, and most dogs are have some sort of fixation or issue. In general this is why I love Brooklyn and hate Manhattan dogruns, but this one is ultra special. They are working on the lack of water issue. The problem is that this was originally not a dog run. read more

Fantastic little dog park. I used to take my babies there back when I lived in Williamsburg. For the most part it's pretty clean and maintenance is on point. Enough room for dogs to run around but yet small enough that they are always within eyesight. read more

McCarren Park is a "must" when we're vising my sister in Brooklyn. Coming from across the bridge in NJ where dogs are greeted with the same enthusiasm as Bed Bugs, my Bulldog Rupert & I really appreciate a well maintained, friendly dog park. The big sell are the people (and pets) who come to the park. There are plenty of friendly, dog loving types and there is always a pleasant conversation to be had. Also a nice feature is that there are many interesting pet friendly establishments in the area, such as the Brooklyn Brewery where one can kick back with their mutt and a cold one. I highly recommend a visit to the park. By the way, I know that little weirdo Wishbone. He's actually a teamster from Elizabeth. read more

I'm really disappointed that this one of the only dog park in the area. Pros: decent sized run area, when the weather is nice there are often many people there for dog socialization, and there are 2 separate runs for large and small dogs. Cons: it's ALWAYS dirty- when it rains don't plan on going for at least a week because it will be solid mud, the small dog park is worse and ends up looking like a gated pond. It's obvious that the area isn't well maintained at all. read more

I spend most of my free time here with my WienerJack. People are friendly and for the most part the dogs are too. Mine likes to hump so if he gets snapped at he deserves it. I have the luxury of going during the day where it is usually pretty full but no where near the craziness it is on the weekends. I agree with Jason S that it totally does need a water source. People have told me their dogs have gotten sick from accidentally drinking the rain water left in the water dishes so def bring your own water for your pup. I don't spent much time in the small dog run b/c my little guy takes better to the big dogs but that side def needs some seating. read more

Again with the damn screens, no benches, and just 2 dogs on a weekend May afternoon? BK's canine game is weak...I guess cats are way more hipster. read more

There's a separate dog run for small dogs. The dog run is actually pretty small. I thought it would be a lot bigger since it's so popular. There were a lot of people walking in and out. There are plenty of seats for humans. No running water. Lots of shovels and sometimes bags to pick up your dog's poop. read more

Amy, Your poem is super cute, but TOTALLY incorrect. There are indeed two runs, but they are not for small dogs and larger dogs, respectively. There is a small run, and there is a large run. Both runs are open to any dog of any size. If you or your dog is having a problem with the behavior of an animal, you need to work it out. If you can't ask someone to take their dog out that is misbehaving, you need to take your animal out. Again, there is a small, dog run. There is a large, dog run. People need to understand this distinction so that there are not misunderstandings. read more

IN my opinon, McGolrick is a nicer park than Mcarren simply because it is larger. That said, McCarren dogs tend to be on the SUPER AGGRESSIVE side. If you are ever at McCarren, beware of the big brown poodle. Its a mean bastard/ read more

This place is a dump. I'm not sure anyone actually is responsible for taking care of it. I live in the neighborhood so I just assumed that this is how all dog parks are... Then I went to Washington Square dog park. It is SO NICE! Unfortunately it's not in my neighborhood. I go here twice a day and at least once a day I see really aggressive dogs being way too rough with other dogs and their owners doing nothing. The gates doors regularly get left open by people who apparently can't read. My dog has contracted kennel cough and multiple eye infections from coming here as well as regular scratches and bites from dogs being too rough and inconsiderate owners. The fencing always has new holes and that is bothersome too because only a few dogs (like mine) would ever try to get out if they saw a squirrel or another dog they wanted to say hi to on the other side. So, I go here because it's close and my dog needs to play and be social but I'm on constant guard for gates being left open, big holes in the fence and poorly behaved dog owners. Good riddance to this place though as soon as the new one opens up by the water! read more

Better than McCarren, but PLEASE fix the small dog run, WTF is up with the large wood chips there, these sticks are bigger than the dogs legs, it SERIOUSLY impedes the small dogs ability to run around freely, and forces unnecessary and potentially dangerous spillover of small dogs into The large dog run (which has patches of smooth dirt)! read more