Puppy Love: A Visit to New CIty Dog Run

This past weekend has to rank among the Top 10 nicest weekends we've had in Rockland this year. It was so nice, that we thought it was time our family dog, Lucy, got a chance to explore New City.

And, where better for Lucy to go on her New City adventure than the dog run at Kennedy-Dells Park, at 355 N. Main St., adjacent to the sprawling Zukor Park complex.

We've heard a lot about the dog run since it was built as part of the county-owned Kennedy-Dells Park, a 179-acre nature preserve known for its trails that are great for hiking and even horseback riding. The dog run has become a popular spot for dog owners from across the county, with the large fenced-in area on a hilltop providing a safe and beautiful spot for pups to stretch their legs.

We took our dog, Lucy (a Beagle/German Shepherd mix), to the dog run Saturday afternoon, when there were a handful of dog owners enjoying the beautiful day. If we had gotten to the park earlier, we would have seen many more of the regulars who gather at the dog run – especially around noon.

Just getting to the dog run is a relaxing experience. After parking in the free lot, you enter a path through the woods of Kennedy-Dells Park that quickly takes you on a trip away from the hustle and bustle of Main Street. Within minutes, you emerge in the middle of two sprawling fields overflowing with flowers and wildlife. The dog run fits in well between the fields and more woods.

From the fields, you can't even tell you are just a few minutes away from shopping centers and major highways. The only town noise to pierce the sounds of nature was the New City Fire Department's emergency horn going off nearby.

On the approach to the dog run, Lucy was spotted by "Rosie," a dog that's among the regulars at the park. Rosie welcomed Lucy and they were both quick to start playing. Within a few minutes, more owners and dogs showed up and it was easy to tell that the regulars at the park are a close-knit group who know all the dogs by name.

We spent about an hour at the dog run, with Lucy getting a little tired and ready for an afternoon nap by then. I've been at other dog runs, but by comparison they were small and crowded. The Kennedy-Dells run seems to be big enough to give dogs room to romp, and space to go off and explore on their own if they want.

As a dog owner, I found the amazing natural setting very relaxing. I could enjoy the park and not worry about Lucy as she was getting exercise and learning how to play with other dogs.

New City Patch Editor Bill Demarest and his wife, Lisa, also have two cats.