If you are a dog-owner who lives in Buffalo Niagara, or you are planning to visit the area with your pup, you will want to take advantage of our region’s beautiful dog parks.
by Welcome 716
Check out these Buffalo Niagara dog parks with a four-legged friend near you
Dog parks are a fun way to help your canine stay fit, socialize with other dogs, and get some fresh air for yourself as well! For your convenience, we did some research and compiled a list of the best dog parks in the area. See how many of these you can cross off your spring to-do list!
Lewiston Dog Park
Go from Artpark to bark park at Lewiston’s Dog Park
This 1.3-acre park is located just outside of Artpark State Park. There are two large fenced-in areas to separate dogs over and under 30 pounds. Dogs run around inside these areas free of the limitations of a leash and enjoy newly installed exercise equipment. It’s a great place to go if your pup has a lot of energy to burn off!
Location & Hours: 400 South 4th Street in Lewiston. Accessible via Artpark’s Portage Road Entrance. Open daily from dawn till dusk.
Ground Rules: Owners must pick up after dogs. No dogs who are known to fight or bite allowed. No excessive barking. No puppies under 4 months allowed due to inoculation requirements. No dogs in heat allowed. Dogs must be healthy and up-to-date on shots. No more than two dogs per handler. For safety’s sake, no pinch or choke collars allowed. No smoking. No toys or food allowed. Dogs must be leashed when outside of fenced-in areas according to town laws. Please respect property grounds. Park is checked regularly and violations will be reported.
Amherst Paw Park
All paws on deck at The Paw Park in Amherst
A good dog park will have features that make both you and your pet feel comfortable, and Amherst delivers. This one-acre park features benches, shade trees, and separate fenced-in areas for large and small dogs. If it’s been a long work day and you are tired but Patch is bouncing off the walls, feel free to prop up your feet and let him dash around, no leash required.
Location: 550 Smith Road in Amherst.
Ground Rules: All dogs must be licensed and up-to-date in rabies, distemper and parvo immunizations. Bordetella and leptospirosis vaccines strongly recommended. This dog park is not recommended for children. For a complete list of rules, visit www.thepawpark.org.
The Barkyard at Lasalle Park
Make fetch happen at Barkyard at Lasalle Park
If you enjoy a waterfront view, you better head over to the 77-acre Lasalle Park, known as the largest waterfront park in Buffalo! Here you’ll find The Barkyard, which was founded in 2007 as the region’s first off-leash dog park. While your four-legged companion enjoys bounding across 70,000 square feet and making friends, you can sit back and enjoy picturesque views of the skyline. The Barkyard provides plenty of amenities: a separate area for smaller dogs, handicap accessibility, a double-gated sally port, lighting, running water, shelter, and seating. It’s hard to imagine a better way to spend a warm spring afternoon.
Location & Hours: 1 Porter Avenue in Buffalo. Open every day from dawn till dusk.
Ground Rules: Limit of three dogs per handler. No food or glass containers allowed. No smoking. No littering. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. No children under 11 allowed. Visit www.thebarkyard.org for a complete list of rules.
Knox Farm State Park
Knox Farm State Park is a scenic spot to take your four legged best bud for the day
If you are a fan of Disney’s “101 Dalmations,” this is the kind of park you might imagine when you think of a serendipitous romance between two people and their canines. Knox Farm is the former estate of the famous Knox family and encompasses a whopping 633 acres of beautiful countryside. Located just outside of historic East Aurora, this picturesque park is where people go to get professional photos taken. Here you’ll find sprawling meadows, charming wood fences, gorgeous trees, duck ponds, historic buildings, and a double-doored “Little Free Library in the Woods.” It’s the perfect place for a picnic and the absolute best for enjoying the sunset.
Step back in time while taking your pooch for a walk, or hang out by the entrance where you’ll find the designated dog park area. It is one of the largest in the region and spans six acres across a former sheep pasture. There are two areas reserved for dogs over thirty pounds and one area for smaller dogs.
Location & Hours: 437 Buffalo Road in East Aurora. State park hours are 7AM to 9PM. Dog park hours are dawn till dusk.
Ground Rules: Owners must pick up after their pets. No pups under 4 months old allowed. Shots must be up-to-date (as of writing, bordetella has become an issue). Collar, license tags, and one leash per dog required. Spayed/Neutered preferred. Dogs must be friendly with other dogs and people.
Ellicott Island Bark Park
Ellicott Creek Island Bark Park is a perfect place to play with your pooch
Many of us love our dogs as much as we love our human children, and when we spoil them we want to go all out! What better way than to take our fur babies for a swim? Here at Ellicott Island Bark Park your beloved companions will have a blast roaming freely around a park without fencing. Why isn’t there fencing, you ask? Because it’s an island, of course! The whole bark park is surrounded by water, making it perhaps the most unique dog park in the area. It’s also incredibly accommodating; in addition to the doggy beach, you’ll find open and shaded areas, trails, a free library station, bowls and fresh water, free cleanup bags, garbage cans, restrooms, a paw-washing station, and picnic tables.
The park is a huge hit with local dogs and owners alike because of the fun setup and helpful amenities, but beware: there is mud and your pet likely won’t stay clean for long. Then again, he or she will absolutely love swimming with other dogs, especially on those hot Buffalo Niagara summer days that are ahead of us. What can we say- sometimes a little mess is worth it!
Location & Hours: 10 Creekside Drive in Tonawanda. Enter at the double-gated footbridge.
Ground Rules: Dogs do not need to be leashed if owners clean up after their pets. Special Note: As of writing, the park was scheduled to close until further notice on March 9th, 2019 for an annual cleanup. For updates, please visit http://www2.erie.gov/parks/ellicott-creek. There is also an active Facebook group available called “Friends of Ellicott Island Bark Park.”
Get Out There with Your Four-Legged Friends!
When the weather is nice, treat your good boys and good girls to a fun outing at one of these awesome dog parks in Buffalo Niagara! Making memories with your loved ones is important, and some of the ones that stick with you the longest are ones where a bit of fresh air was involved. This spring, take care of yourself and your beloved pet and give them the kind of evenings and weekend mornings they live for, ones where they are free to be themselves, and to be at the place where they want to be the most- right by your side.
As always, the Welcome 716 Events Page can help you plan your adventure!
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