Philadelphia Dog Parks: Center City, South Philly, and Beyond
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation has eight official dog runs, and all of them are below. Even those are built and kept up by neighborhood volunteers, not the city, and they run on donations and volunteer hours. The rest are run by private groups, a community development corporation, or businesses. This guide starts with the runs in and around Center City and South Philly, then covers the rest of the city and a handful of much bigger parks outside it.
This is updated as of October 2026. Parks close for repairs, change their rules, and add membership requirements, so look at the park’s own page before a first visit. If you notice something that’s incorrect, send us an email and we’ll update it.
Center City and South Philly
These are the fenced runs closest to where most of our clients live.
Seger Park Dog Run — Washington Square West
Where: Seger Park, 10th to 11th Streets at Lombard. The dog run entrance is at 1001 Rodman Street.
Setup: About 7,000 square feet of synthetic turf (it used to be mulch), with seating and a water source.
Access: Free. The Seger Park Dog Owners Association keeps it up through sponsorships and donations, and hosts events like Woofstock and Santa Paws.
Schuylkill River Park Dog Park — Fitler Square
Where: 25th Street at Spruce, inside Schuylkill River Park.
Setup: Two fenced runs on K-9 Grass turf. One is for all dogs; the other is for small dogs under 25 pounds and for older or disabled dogs. There are dog water fountains, and pools in summer. New turf, drainage repairs, and fencing were finished in 2025.
Access: Free, no registration. The volunteer dog board runs it, and an optional $75 yearly membership with the Friends of Schuylkill River Park helps pay for upkeep.
Good to know: Freight trains run right alongside, and the horns are loud. It gets crowded on nice evenings and weekends.
Mario Lanza Dog Park — Queen Village
Where: Mario Lanza Park, 214 Catharine Street, between 2nd and 3rd.
Setup: A long, narrow gravel run with a hose. The neighbors’ association is raising money for surface improvements.
Access: Free; a $50 yearly household donation is suggested. Volunteers with the Queen Village Neighbors Association run it, and the rules are strict: dogs must be licensed and vaccinated, wear tags, be at least 4 months old, and be spayed or neutered after 12 months. No food or treats, and no children under 14.
Columbus Square — Passyunk Square
Where: Columbus Square, 12th and Reed streets.
Setup: Two fenced dog areas inside the square, which also has a playground, ball fields, and a rec center. One is for small dogs and one for large dogs, and SPADO, the neighborhood dog owners’ group, looks after them.
Access: Free.
Dog Park at Bok — East Passyunk Crossing
Where: Outside the Bok building, 9th and Dudley streets.
Setup: A small gravel run with a shade tree, benches, and logs.
Penn’s Landing Dog Run — Old City waterfront
Where: Columbus Boulevard at Market Street, at the bottom of the Market Street steps.
Setup: About a tenth of an acre, split into small- and large-dog sides, with trees, benches, and a water station.
Good to know: The new Park at Penn’s Landing is being built nearby, so the run may close from time to time. Check the Delaware River Waterfront site before you go.
Lanier Dog Park — Grays Ferry
Where: Lanier Playground, Tasker Street between 29th and 30th.
Setup: Two runs on K9Grass turf, one for small dogs and one for large dogs, about 4,800 square feet in all. Opened in 2018 and run by neighborhood volunteers.
Access: Free; a $50 membership ($25 for students and seniors) is encouraged.
Winter Street Greenway Dog Park — Logan Square
Where: The north side of Winter Street between 21st and 22nd, just off the Parkway.
Setup: Opened in 2021 on what used to be a traffic lane, with separate small- and large-dog areas on synthetic turf and drinking fountains.
Access: Free.
Elsewhere in the city
Worth the trip if you’re nearby or want a change of scene. Several of these are members-only, so sign up before you go.
Orianna Hill Dog Park — Northern Liberties. 900 North Orianna Street. About an acre with trees, benches, and wood chips. Members only, so register your dog through the park’s website before your first visit.
Palmer Doggie Depot — Fishtown. 37 East Palmer Street. A small, volunteer-kept run with water and solar lighting. It’s one enclosure for all sizes. Free.
Pops Dog Run — East Kensington. Black, Coyle & McBride (Pops) Playground, 2150 East Huntingdon Street, at Trenton Avenue and East Hazzard Street. One of the city’s official Parks & Rec dog runs. Free.
Monk’s Dog Run — Port Richmond. Monkiewicz Playground, 3201 Richmond Street. Volunteers built it on an empty lot in 2015. It’s paved, so bring water. Free.
Pretzel Park Dog Run — Manayunk. 4300 Silverwood Street. A small run with dirt and wood chips. Free.
Fetch Park — Manayunk. 3720 Main Street. A dog park with a café and bar, opened in November 2025, with an indoor-outdoor turf area and staff who watch the dogs. People get in free; dogs need a day pass or a monthly or yearly membership.
Roxborough Dog Park — Roxborough. 4117 Mitchell Street. A small grass-and-dirt run on a former vacant lot. Members only, with a yearly fee and volunteer hours.
Chester Avenue Dog Park — West Philly. 48th Street and Chester Avenue. Members only.
Outside the city
For a dog who needs real room to run, these are bigger than anything in the city. Most are county or township parks, and several need a membership or permit first.
Timber Creek Dog Park — Blackwood, NJ. Chews Landing Road at Taylor Avenue, in Camden County’s Timber Creek Park. Nine fenced acres in the woods, the largest on this list, where your dog can run off leash through the trees.
Cooper River Dog Park — Cherry Hill, NJ. Near 953 Park Boulevard in Cooper River Park. Camden County rebuilt it in 2024, with separate large- and small-dog areas, agility equipment, and a pavilion. Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 6 a.m. on weekends.
Core Creek Park Off-Leash Dog Park — Langhorne, Bucks County. 901 Bridgetown Pike, Tollgate Road entrance. Separate fenced areas for dogs over and under 28 pounds. Members only, with an access card set to your dog’s weight class. Closed Wednesdays from noon to 3 p.m.
Doylestown Dog Park — Doylestown, Bucks County. Almshouse Road between Route 611 and Turk Road. About 3 acres, split into small-dog, large-dog, and rotating areas. Dogs need a license, vaccinations, and an orientation.
Rolling Hill Park — Gladwyne, Lower Merion. 1301 Rose Glen Road. A 103-acre park with fenced and unfenced off-leash areas. You need a Lower Merion off-leash permit, which means watching a short video and answering a questionnaire, plus a fee. Bring your own water and bags.
Reynolds’ Dog Park — Oaks, Upper Providence. 1000 Longford Road, in Longford Park. About 2 fenced acres. Dogs must be licensed and wear rabies tags.
Before you go
Every run posts its own rules, but these hold almost everywhere.
License and rabies shot. In Philadelphia, every dog 4 months or older has to be vaccinated for rabies and licensed. You can apply online through ACCT Philly.
Leash until the gate. The city’s leash law applies everywhere outside a fenced run, including the walk in and out. Take the leash off once you’re inside the inner gate, not before.
Puppies wait. Most runs don’t allow puppies under 4 months, and some require spaying or neutering after 12 months.
Leave the treats and toys at home. Food is banned at many runs, and a favorite ball can start a fight.
Watch your dog, not your phone. Pick up right away, and leave if play turns rough or your dog is getting overwhelmed.
Check the surface in summer. Turf and gravel get hot. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for paws.
Skip the park if your dog is sick, in heat, not fully vaccinated, or uneasy around other dogs. A long walk or a sniff around a quiet block does the job just as well.
Want a dog run in your neighborhood park?
Anyone can ask Philadelphia Parks & Recreation for a new dog run, but the neighbors behind it have to build and keep it up. The city expects:
A group of volunteers who will maintain the run for years.
A site at least 200 feet from homes and 100 feet from water, with a map of the spot.
Letters of support from groups like the park’s friends group, civic associations, and local elected officials.
Money raised for the whole build to city standards: fencing, dog-safe turf, lighting, water, trash cans, seating, and signs.
A plan for ongoing upkeep and fundraising.
Proposals go by email to Parks & Rec, which says it decides within three months. Start with the city’s request page and dog run guidelines.
A note on our walks
Our walkers don’t take client dogs into public dog parks. In a shared run we can’t control the other dogs, and a scuffle or an illness picked up there isn’t a risk we’ll take with your dog. If your building has its own dog area, we can use it if you want. This guide is for your own outings.
If you’d like help on weekdays, every new client starts with a free meet & greet at home. Book a free meet & greet or call (267) 571-9373.
Know of a run we missed, or one that’s changed? Email hello@pupsonpassyunk.com and we’ll update the list.
