Best Parks To Walk Your Dog In Pittsburgh
Run, don't walk, to these dog-friendly parks that are great for walking, jogging and playing ball with your best furry bud. It's been a long winter for everyone, Rex included, and it's time to get out, take a deep breath and enjoy all of the fine greenery that Pittsburgh has to offer.
Penn Township Municipal Park
2001 Municipal Court
Harrison City, PA 15636
(724) 744-2171
www.penntwp.org/park_amenities
With a limit of two dogs per handler, this park isn't for professional dog walkers. However, for the rest of the one-dog-per-owner group, this is the perfect place to take Spike. A new walking trail expansion just recently completed around the expansive pond (though be cautious to clean your pup's paws off before stepping in your vehicle - geese feces is abundant in some spots). The park is open from dawn to dusk, and also boasts a section sanctioned off for small- and large-breed dogs to run free from their leash.
Monroeville Park
Heritage Park
Saunders Station Road
Monroeville, PA 15146
(412) 317-5070
www.monroeville.pa.us/parks/dogpark.htm
Exercise and socialization, what more could your dog want? The dog park located inside of Heritage Park has a huge fenced-in area for the pups to run off-leash, tons of new friends to meet and a puppy-size water fountain. Please clean up after your dog, but if you forget to bring a bag, a dispenser is provided for your convenience. Word to the wise: there is a double gate at the entrance of the dog area, so please be sure to close the first gate behind you and unleash your dog before entering the second gate. He or she may feel threatened if other dogs are unleashed and he is not.
North Park
303 Pierce Mill Road
Allison Park, PA 15101
(724) 935-1766
www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/npfac.aspx
Walk your dog around North Park's large and well-tended tracks, then blow off some steam in North Park's own dog park. Grassy and nicely landscaped, with water and disposal bags at the ready, these two dog areas are the perfect spot for your pooch to play a quick pickup game or roll around for hours. The only drawback is that there's no specially sanctioned area for small breeds, so always be on close watch with Piccolina and other larger pups. Bonus: in the dog area by the skating rink, there's a picnic pavilion, so be sure to bring your lunch and re-energize while your dog romps around.
Related: Best Parks To Walk Your Dog
South Park Dog Park
Buffalo Drive
South Park, PA 15129
(412) 835-4810
www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/spfac.aspx
Dogs on leash are allowed in most of this 2,000-acre park. Be sure to take your dog to see the domestic buffalo preserve, fish pond and beautiful peacocks during your walk. In the off-leash dog area, benches, water and trash bags are at your disposal. Most of the area is grassed, with a few naked spots, so be sure to watch for mud and dust while you play. This particular park draws tons of friendly dogs from all around Pittsburgh.
Raccoon Creek State Park
3000 State Route 18
Pittsburgh, PA 15050
(724) 899-2200
www.raccoonstatepark.org
A beautiful park where you may camp and hike with your dog, Raccoon Creek State Park has tons of other amenities. This park offers a variety of hiking options to satisfy the needs of both the day hiker as well as the overnight backpacker. Swimming, picnicking and fishing are also fun options if you want to explore a little more than a simple walk. Visit the park's website for more information.
Nikki Tiani-Moroney is a full time mum of two boys, wife of a professional poker player/photographer/amateur pencil-sharpening competitor and writer from Pittsburgh, PA. When she isn't studiously neglecting her housework in favor of a good book, she's out simultaneously fighting crime and picking up sidewalk litter while savoring an occasional cigarette. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.