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 Route 59, turn onto Torne Valley Road, travel to park entrance on left-hand side of the road. Parking is along road near entrance.

Description

1 Acre - Encompasses a river bank outcrop of the billion-year-old bedrock of the Ramapo Mountains (Granitic Gneiss). This expanse of bedrock smoothed by glacial outwash water action has long provided a popular spot for fishing, canoeing and nature observation. The park provides the best public access along the 37-mile length of the Ramapo River. The picturesque vista from the park includes a view of the Torne Mountain in nearby Harriman State Park.

History

The Ramapo Land Company donated the one-acre park to the County of Rockland in 1998. For decades this area has long been a favorite spot to access and the view the Ramapo River.

Present Use

Fishing, canoeing, wildlife observation.

  • Rest Rooms: No
  • Handicapped Accessible: Limited

Future Plans

Keep the park as a natural setting.

Wildlife

Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, Mink, Muskrat, 14 species of fish are found in this section of the river including the stocked Brown Trout.

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