County Parks & Dog Runs

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Park Permits

Welcome to the Rockland County Park System. To apply for a General Use or a Pavilion Permit in a County Park, please click below.  You will be taken to our new online Park Permitting System.

If you are unable to access the online system, please contact our office via email at RCParks@co.rockland.ny.us for assistance.

Reminder: Reservations are first come, first serve. Payment is due in order to reserve a facility.

General Information

County Parks and Open Space mapSince 1965, the Rockland County Park System has grown to a network of 30, comprising 3,179 acres. The goal has been to provide county residents ready access to local parks without having to endure traffic congestion or drive long distances to enjoy nature's beauty. Park acquisitions have been attained through County funds matched with federal and state grants along with land donations, tax delinquency and partnerships with Land Trusts and other municipalities.

Our parks, now conservatively worth some $230,000,000, are situated on or near mountainous ridges that preserve our skylines as forever green and uncluttered by high-rise. They provide a variety of both active and passive recreation along with preserving parts of our county's history. Recent acquisitions of the last remaining active farms have preserved part of Rockland's past and continue to produce locally grown farm fresh produce. The parks provide excellent nature trails where one may, if you look carefully, encounter a variety of animals such as a red-tailed hawk, pileated woodpecker, barred owl, white-tailed deer, red fox or a wild turkey. There are scenic vantage points at South Mountain, Buttermilk Falls, Mountainview Nature Park, Gurnee Park and Amphitheater, Kakiat and Clausland Mountain. There you will witness the beautiful vistas stretched out for all to see.

Dogs on leashes are permitted in all County parks except for Haverstraw Bay Park. 

Dog Runs

Two of our county parks offer residents an enclosed area for their dogs to run off-leash. These enclosed areas are called "Dog Runs". They provide a community setting in which people can gather and socialize and where they can observe the interaction of groups of dogs at play.

Kakiat Park, empty with treesKakiat Park

Man with dog at Kennedy Dells ParkKennedy Dells Park

Dog runs not only allow owners and their dogs to spend time together, but also offer dogs a space for play and companionship with other dogs. Dogs must be supervised by their "humans" at all times.

All Parks

Directions

From Main Street in New City, turn onto New Hempstead Road. Park entrance is located east of intersection of Little Tor Road and New Hempstead Road, directly opposite John Street.

Description

30 Acres - The land is heavily wooded with a mature stand of hardwood trees primarily composed of oaks, maples, ash, hickory, tulip and sycamore. The site contains federal wetlands that include a 2.5 acre pond, the Demarest Kill Stream and its tributaries.

History

Purchased by the County in 1968 for general municipal use. In 1997, the County Executive and Legislature officially opened the property to the public for recreational use. In 1998, the property was dedicated as parkland.

Present Use

The roadway from the parking area to the pond provides access to a hiking trail, picnic area, wooden fishing station and benches. The pond is stocked with Brown Trout annually.

  • Rest Rooms: No
  • Handicapped Accessible: Parking, Picnic Tables & Fishing Station.

Future Plans

Connect the property to Dutch Garden.

Wildlife

Coyote and Red Fox (occasional), White-tailed Deer, Muskrat, Opossum, Skunk, Rabbit, Sunfish, Large-mouth Bass, Brown Trout, Perch, Pickerel and over 100 species of birds have been observed.

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