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.

Apply for a Permit

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

Since 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 trees Kakiat Park

Man with dog at Kennedy Dells Park Kennedy 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

Sean Hunter Ryan Memorial Park
1. Address:Bradley Parkway Rte 38
  West Nyack, NY 10913
Amenities:
1. Hiking
Categories:
1. Parks

Sean Hunter Ryan Memorial Park Map

Directions

From Route 303 head east on Bradley Parkway (County Route 38), park is on your left just before Nyack College. Access is Bradley Parkway or through Buttermilk Falls Park White Trail in West Nyack.

Description

12.55 Acres - There are numerous Red Oak, Chestnut Oak, Maple, Black Birch, Hickory, Witch Hazel, and American Ash. There is a plaque dedicated to Sean Hunter Ryan, a Park Ranger at Mount Rainier National Park who lost his life trying to save an injured hiker along the trail.

History

In 1996, the County received 455,000 for an Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) Grant to obtain 9.5 acres of land owned by the Nyack School District as well as 2.96 acres of the land was privately owned by Mary B. Blake of Orangetown. The property was purchased to protect a segment of the Long Path Hiking Trail that stretches 346 miles from the George Washington Bridge to the Adirondacks. On July 9, 2003 the County dedicated the Park to the memory of Sean Hunter Ryan. Sean Hunter Ryan, a Rockland resident, had a true love of nature and the outdoors, which led him to work as a Park Ranger. In 1995, Ranger Ryan tragically fell to his death during a very dangerous rescue attempt on Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State.