Ithaca Dog Park facts for kids
The Ithaca Dog Park is a special place in Ithaca, New York, where dogs can run and play freely. It's an official dog park and part of the New York State park system. Sadly, the park is currently closed because of the coronavirus shutdown.
You can find the park on the Festival Lands, right next to the Allan H. Treman State Marine Park. This area is at the top of Cayuga Lake. Part of the park is on land owned by New York State, and another part is on land owned by the city. There's even a beach area on state land where dogs can go for a swim!
Long before it was officially allowed, dog owners would bring their pets here to exercise off-leash. The land for the park was created in the 1960s from leftover materials from dredging (digging up the lake bottom). Today, many people enjoy the park, including birdwatchers, joggers, skiers, and families having picnics. It also has a natural shoreline.
This large park is well-maintained. It has a nice fence, city water for the dogs, and even small swimming pools just for them! There are also lovely shade trees, benches, and picnic tables for both people and their furry friends. The park was first created with help from the Tompkins County Dog Owners Group, the City of Ithaca, and the New York State Parks Commission.
Tompkins County Dog Owners Group: Helping Dog Parks
The Tompkins County Dog Owners Group (TCDOG) is a group that supports the Ithaca Dog Park. They work to make sure dog owners have a voice and that the park stays a great place for dogs.
TCDOG, along with the City of Ithaca, the New York State Parks Commission, the Town of Ithaca, and the Tompkins County Board, have been planning a special fenced-in area for dogs to play off-leash at the marina. In February 2008, a temporary fenced area was set up. This allowed people from Ithaca and nearby areas to bring their dogs for exercise. Outside this fenced area, dogs must be on a leash. This official off-leash area was moved and made a bit bigger in May 2008. It now covers both city and state-owned land.
Temporary Park: A Place for Dogs to Play
On December 5, 2007, the city council voted to allow dogs to be off-leash in a specific fenced area of the city's Festival Lands until April 3, 2008. This made it legal for dogs to play freely in that spot.
To help with this, a temporary fence was built around the Festival Lands. The city spent about $6,000 on this fence. Many people who were worried about the park hoped this fence would solve their concerns. However, some felt the fence wasn't needed because dog walkers were often the only ones using the park in winter.
On December 15, 2007, volunteers from TCDOG helped put up the fence posts for a 4-foot-tall (1.2 m) fence. This fence would surround the new temporary park. The city had set aside money for this temporary fence. The permission for the off-leash area became official once the fence was finished in early January 2008.
- The Tompkins County Dog Owners Group (TCDOG) website has lots of information about the park's history and the efforts to create a legal off-leash area: tcdog.org
- You can find lists of other legal dog parks across the U.S. here: Dogfriendly.com-Off-Leash Dog Parks
- For updates, you can check out their blog: ithacadogpark.wordpress.com
