High concentration of Karen's and helicopter Moms' in this place. Hard to believe people can be a pet lover and treat humans so poorly all at the same time. Masks not required for pet owners or for pets. Unless you feel, the air is toxic , and your dog is at risk of Covid . Guess that's what makes life so interesting, we live in such a strange world. Quite a few Karen's hanging around this place. read more

Honestly, would be 5 stars but there are some weird people there. "Karens" that freak out when their dog starts playing with other dogs...at a dog park! I mean they pull out water and snacks and get upset when other dogs crowd them. It is so weird. Big beautiful park, usually no drama, amongst the dogs. read more

The best place in New Jersey. I love this park so much. But really - I love coming here. I'm here 3 times a week in the nicer months. My 40 pound beagle mix loves it more. It's so nice to watch the dogs run around and enjoy themselves. It's actually relaxing for me. There are two parks here - one for smaller dogs, and one for large dogs. Each area has equipment that your dog can jump over, on and go underneath. There is also a "time out" area for dogs that are misbehaving. Both sides of the park have benches for owners to sit down. Most of the owners who come here are really nice and considerate. PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG HERE IF THEY ARE NOT NEUTERED OR DO NOT PLAY NICE WITH OTHER DOGS. PLEASE KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON YOUR DOG! I cannot stress this enough!!! It is really frustrating how many people do not follow these simple rules! (Although these type of owners are the minority in this park, it still happens) It's dangerous to the other dogs as intact males can be more aggressive. Also, do not bring your dog here if they are not good with other dogs in general! It's not safe and will ruin the fun for everyone. If you have even the slightest feeling that your dog may not be good with others, please keep a close eye on them. read more

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Pros: -large divided sections for both the large and small dogs -most dogs are well behaved and most owners are friendly (there're always a couple of nasty or over-protective ones but what can you do) -really popular gathering place so your pooch will bound to make some new friends Cons: -ground is dirt and not wood chips so your dog is definitely going to need a bath after playing here -not enough seating for the size of the park -seating for owners are only around the perimeter of the park so it makes it hard to see what's going on in the other areas of the park if your dog wanders off read more

Brookdale Dog Park - Inside the small dog park - Dog Parks Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

Basically just a little park. Certain times you see the same people It doesn't have water set out. And there's not a treat store nearby BYOB Bring your own BAG read more

always love it here, but the parking is far from the park and sometimes it feels sort of empty - where is everyone and their dogs! Would like to see more people here and more upkeep from Montclair. But, I never had a bad time and my little cock-a-poo loves coming even if it just for a little bit of time. Come out everyone, great place for your little guy (or girl) to get some energy used up and to get some socialability! HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON! read more

This dog park is great!!! Lots of friendly owners who really care about keeping the dog pen clean and safe. I love seeing opal getting a chance to play with dogs her size. There's obstacles and a fountain with tons of bowls. There is also a side for smaller dogs so everyone is happy!! read more

Brookdale Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

My dog was attacked last week by a dog that frequents the park. It is a large Dogo Argentino (argentinian mastiff) it is white, very muscular and UNNEUTERED. The breed was made for large game hunting and isn't good with other animals. It attacked my 70lb dog withing seconds of shutting the gate. The owner us unapologetic and lied on the police report to try to get out of paying my dogs $1500+ medical Bill's. Do not let your dog around his or you might find yourself in my situation. read more

Brookdale Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

This is a great park so long as the PEOPLE follow the rules. If your dog isn't fixed or is aggressive, please don't come here. Weekends are crowded, so little kids will be in harm's way as dogs are running all over. Otherwise, clean up after your pup & have fun! read more

Finally got to take Momo to the dog park here and it's one of the best ones I've been to and definitely the best in the area. Just reviewing this dog park area, they do a stellar job of keeping both the small and large dog parks orderly. And just having the separate parks is a major plus. Brookdale park itself, it one of the largest ones in the state and is an amazing place to go to with friends, family and pets. I thought that locating this dog park would be a pain and a half, but they provide TONS of signs to direct you here. Also parking is easy and abundant. A really great spot for you and your furry friend(s) to come to and enjoy the day! read more

A dog park is a matter of expectations. For me, I just love that Brookdale Park has two large enclosed areas for dogs where they can run free, make friends and have fun. I don't require too much more than that as my backyard can't provide the same excitement. There are drawbacks to every dog park, but Brookdale is a great place to take your dog as long as you remember that you are going for your dog.* Brookdale Park is beautiful, but the two fenced dog parks (one for small dogs and one for larger dogs) are ostensibly piles of dirt with scattered benches and a surprising bevy of obstacles for the dogs to stare at not knowing what in the world they are supposed to do because they are not show dogs or circus dogs. The patrons of this dog park are pretty typical in the dog park world. Yes, people bring over-aggressive dogs here and then don't pay enough attention to them. Yes, people don't police their own dogs enough. Yes, people are overprotective of their dogchildren sometimes. This is just how it goes. If you keep an eye on your own dog, you will be fine. Your dog will wonder why you just don't leave him or her alone, but he or she doesn't know taunting pit bulls isn't really a good idea. It's about your dog, if you remember that you will love Brookdale Dog Park. My dog is small, but rolls with the big dogs and has never been bothered more than normal for a dog park where sniffing butts, running in circles, digging holes and bumping into people is commonplace. _________________ *Your dog doesn't care what it looks like, there are dogs everywhere! read more

It's a nice dog park with two separate areas for small and big dogs to play. Noted though there were two bigger dogs in the small dog play area. What I liked about the park was that i was very spacious and there was so many dogs in attendance for your dog to interact with. Pros: *big area * wooden dog toys *seperate play areas Cons: *It's all dirt and lacks grass *water fountains don't work *no doggy bags available read more

My only complaint about the park itself is that it's always out of dog bags, so bring a couple of your own just in case. This is one of the nicest, most spacious, and dog-filled dog park I've been to in the area. They have two parks: one for small dogs and one for big dogs. Both sides of the park have adequate space for running, agility obstacles, trees, and benches for humans (and dogs, occasionally haha). The parks are kept in pretty good condition all year round, though they get pretty sloppy in the fall and spring with wet weather and there is no snow removal in the winter (not that I noticed anyway). There are "good" times to go, usually after 6PM on weeknights and mid-afternoon on weekends. More often than not there will be at least a dozen dogs on each side during these times, so there are lots of opportunities for play, chase, etc. My only other complaint is about this park is the humans who come here who don't know how to control their dogs, or who just come, sit on a bench and read/talk on their cell phones, and don't pay any attention to how their dogs are behaving with the other dogs. It's important to be a good samaritan here and keep an eye out for little dogs who might get bullied. Also, the big dog side of the park is usually pretty noisy with growling and barking and humans breaking up dog fights. I never have to deal with that directly since I'm always on the small dog side. read more

My Presley bear loves coming here!! He has a set of friends who always come and he always has a good time. From the moment I get him out of the car, he knows exactly where we are going. They always have water, it's nice and shaded. I highly recommend going there, but only if your dog is properly behaved. The only time it gets bad, is when someone brings a dog in who isn't trained. read more

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Excellent dog park for big and small dogs. Everyone is very friendly, and the park is well kept. read more

Brookdale Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

Great dog park. Started going a few weeks ago and my dog has lots of fun. I'm super pregnant so it has enough benches to sit and be comfy. The people I've encountered are pretty friendly and I haven't had or seen any dog incidents. It has a doggy time out area too which can be super helpful to discipline your dog if needed. It doesn't have gravel which is why I started going here rather than the dog park 3 min away from my house. My dog loves to run there, he will not run in gravel. The only downfall is that it could get messy when wet but you can't have it all and it's totally worth it when I see my dog running happily. There are plenty of doggy stations and a couple of water fountains that should be opening soon. I use the big dog side but there's also a smaller dog side. Great park overall! read more

Very fun spot. Big area for the dogs to run around. Had some obstacles for the puppies to play on. Very picture friendly!! All the dogs there were very nice. We will definitely be back! read more

Brookdale Dog Park - Tubby conquering the terrain park. - Dog Parks Near Me - Bloomfield, New Jersey

My dog enjoys coming here and both small and little dog sections are very spacious. There are water fountains for the dogs to drink out of . There are also agility stations such as a ramp that your dogs can play on . There is also a hose that you can use to quickly bathe your dog if they get too muddy . read more

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Brookdale is the best dog park in North Jersey that I've experienced so far. As others have mentioned, there are big dog and small dog (25lbs and under) sections, and the big dog area is quite large. Each has water fountains, benches, and play structures like tunnels and ramps. It seems like people come from all over to use the park, so in my experience, I haven't met any territorial "regulars," with the drama that brings (something I had never anticipated as a new dog owner!). Sometimes owners bring big dogs into the small dog section but usually because the dogs are timid and gentle, so it doesn't pose an issue. The only drawback for me is that there are rocks in some areas that make for an unpleasant landing when my clumsy puppy wipes out during a run. read more

This dog park is awesome! There always seems to be a lot of dogs for my pup to interact with. I like that big dogs are separate from the little ones! read more

Great hangout for the doges. Easy for walking/running with pups in actual park, and parking is very close. Your dogs can socialize and exercise in the safety of the large fenced in area. Great temperature most seasons due to a large amount of trees planted providing a ton of shade. read more

Overall it's a nice fenced area for the larger dog portion. I have a large dog - husky/lab mix who loves all dogs! It's a good size park for running and a few areas with ramps and tunnels. Water fountains didn't work and there were no doggie bags so there was quite a bit of poop towards the back. I spoke to someone on the small dog side and she said that her dog had gotten out through a lifted portion of the fence. I would go back because it's one of the few options in the area, but be careful if you have a smaller dog. read more

Great dog park in Essex County. Things it has going for it: - Separate large and small dog runs - 2 dedicated dog drinking fountains in each run - Large sized runs - Adequate seating - Great fencing, gates, entry area and plaza - Obstacles for dogs to play on - Time out area in each run - Leash holders in each entry area - Plenty of shade - On street parking inside park and just outside of park on Mt Vernon Rd Things it has going against it: - Decomposed granite but mostly dirt and rocks as ground cover, gets muddy in areas - No bathrooms near dog runs - Gets crowded on weekends - Could use some more seating considering the size of the runs and use it gets One of the better dog parks/runs in Northern New Jersey. It has all the basics and in some cases has double the basics (2 water sources in each run). They did such a great job with this run, why only 4 stars? The ground cover.......it needs to be upgraded to something like pea gravel. They spent enough money on these runs they should have gone the extra mile and got the right ground cover in there. Upgrade the ground cover and add some more seating and this is a 5 star dog run in my opinion. Dog runs/parks I have been to so far: http://www.yelp.com/list/nyc-metro-area-dog-parks-runs-queens read more

I am never taking my dog back, she was attacked by 3 other male dogs and the owners seemed to not even care. I thought the agility equipment would be a nice change of pace from my regular dog park but it turns out that it is not even worth it because of how much danger my dog was in read more

This has become our regular park me and my pup look forward to going to everyday. The dog park is awesome with plenty of room for him to play with dogs and also have his space to play fetch. I love that there's separate sections for big and small dogs so everyone gets along and is safe. The majority of dogs and owners are super sweet so I have no complaints there! The only time there would be an issue is if a dog isn't trained or is too big/small to be in that area. read more

The first dog park my boyfriend and I brought our puppy to was Brookdale. I heard some negative things but enough good to try it out. First thing we saw when we got there was a posting asking for help with a previous dog attack. Yikes. But it was for the big dog side and only 1 dog in the small dog side, so we tried it out anyway. It was during the tail end of winter so it was a little grungy, and the agility tools are pretty basic but our Jinx absolutely loved it. Seemed like she slept for the next 2 days. We've explored one other dog park since then (an injury put her out of commission for a few weeks) and plan on trying some more out, but Brookdale is my personal local favorite. Pros: ~Lots of space to run. ~benches for human ~most owners are either friendly and/or watchful ~water fountains are a blessing ~always a toy around (which Jinx always prefers to what we bring lol) ~always another dog to play with Cons: ~not much respect for the size guidelines, under 25 lbs and over 25lbs (as someone with a 13lb dog who doesn't know her size, and is also recovering, it's nerve wracking when someone brings their 50lb dog in who beelines for Jinx and starts flipping her around) ~Jinx always comes back in need of a wipe down/bath ~no grass, just woodchips ~see lots of altercations in the big dog side read more

This was my dogs first time at a dog park. Recently the doggy bags have been filled, water fountains work. The dog owners are nice and there is enough space for the dogs to run and play as they please. MORE than enough space. It's worth the 20 minute drive. The park is very clean too. I would advice for parents not to bring their kids to run around in here and pet/play with other dogs without asking. I've seen some kids pull on other dogs tails... read more

I really enjoy this park because of the size of it, however i'm only giving it 2 stars because i've had more negatives in the park than positives. There seem to be a lot of unneutered dogs coming to the park which is a big problem. Owners let them in, when they are already growing at the fence, and let them take off upsetting other dogs and even attacking them! This happens 4-5 times a week! Unneutered dogs shouldn't be allowed in there. While yes, maybe they aren't all aggressive, the dogs who are fixed act up when these dogs come in. Most recently we've had alot of issues where owners have said "my dog is unpredictable" and has attacked another dog! Yet they keep bringing their dog. Yes dogs are animals, but when you know your dog doesn't get along with others, why would you bring it to a park and ruin the fun for others? When you enter the dog park anything can happen, my dogs have been attacked blood has been drawn and i take that chance everytime i enter. My dogs have fun and enjoy others, but we need to realize anything can happen. They are animals. Parents and babysitters also think its acceptable to bring their kids into the park, they run around and dogs chase them and parents don't seem to mind. You will care when your kid is tripped or nipped on by a dog thinking your screaming kid is a chew toy! No excuse not to fix your dog. read more

My dog loves it here and none of the dogs are a problem as long as their owners pay attention. Someone wrote a review about not letting un-neutered dogs in the park. My dog is "zeutered" which is another form of neutering a dog that many shelters do now because it is more cost effective. People give me crap about him being unaltered, and I think they need to mind their business since my dog is technically neutered and well behaved. Its not fair to say you wont let a dog in for one reason or another. Unless the dog is aggressive all dogs should be allowed. Also more pit bulls in Montclair than I expected. Which is fabulous because my dog is a pit and I just love all pitty babies. The area is very dusty and dirty make sure you wear sneakers or you will have filthy feet. Oh, and bring water with you in the winter and early spring. The fountains havent been turned on yet. read more

"Love Love Love this park", say my dog's eyes every time I drive up to this place. The Brookdale park, on the whole, is beautiful for just walks, runs and family time. With the dog parks, it makes the trip all the more fun. They have parking lots and you are also allowed to park on the road. A number of signs lead you to the dog park. It's funny that my puppy leads the way once we park, that's how many times I bring him here. They have a large dog and a small dog section. Even though I have a 6-month-old puppy, I take him to the large dog area as he weighs 52 lbs. The first few times he was roughed up by the other older dogs, now he's toughened up and enjoys his social time. They have a water fountain and lot of poppy bags to keep the area clean. Ample room to run around and tire the dogs out. This is a great park and is really well maintained. My dog and I really enjoy this park. The only downside for me is that I HAVE to give him a shower soon after I take him back home from here. read more

Nice play area for dogs and people. Not for babies or toddlers. I should let my dog Dov write this. He is an 11 year old black lab mix who is more of a lounge dog then a trail blazer. We recently took him on a long car ride from a hotel in Maryland. Before we returned to our hotel room in New Jersey, we thought he, my husband, my daughter and I should stretch our legs at this park. It is easy access from the Garden State Parkway. What Dov and I liked best about the park is the socialization of dogs and humans. The dogs can run freely, sniff, jump, or just chill if they like. I saw an exuberant dog splashing in his water dish. Others chasing each other around the fenced in yard. After Dov checked out a few dogs, he sat by my feet. I was chatting with various people who were regulars at the park. They were kind and involved in all kinds of activities, both with and without there dogs. While my husband and my daughter explored the rest of the park, I was collecting tidbits of useful information, like where the local doggy daycare is located. The play area is dirt so it can get muddy or dusty. There is a washing station. I recommend having a towel in the car to clean your dog before you give him or her a ride home, read more

First trip to the dog pArk with our dog, after 5 mins we were sitting by ourselves at the back of the lot. A pitbull walked over and attacked our dog sitting on the bench while his owner sat on the other side of the lot. My husband had to break the dogs apart. Once the owner came over he leashed his pitbull for a minute then let him off again to only come back and bite our dog. All the dogs seemed friendly with their owners close by except this one. Go at your dogs own risk!! read more

Best dog park I've been to so far. I use it for my small dog ( 15lb) Area is spacious enough for him to run in, there is a good amount of trees actually inside the dog park, which makes it great for the warmer days. Benches on the perimeter, water supply and even a wash off station. It's also great that you can also just choose to walk your dog in the surrounding area outside of the dog run, cause it's a great park overall. I don't understand some of the complaints. Lack of dog bags? Bring your own. As a dog owner you should have a supply anyway and not expect a park to supply them. Benches around the perimeter an issue? Better than in the middle and dogs getting tripped up by them. And as for dogs who don't behave well, it's really not the park, it's the dog and the owner. I do agree that there should be a sign that male dogs need to be neutered. My dog has a great time, and I usually get to meet some new friendly people myself. read more

I'm torn between 4 stars and 5. I'll just come back and update it later. The park is nice, I have a puppy who is a lab mix but at 6 months she's a bit small. The sign on the small dog area said dogs under 25lbs, but I think the real distinction is the aggressiveness of your dog, there are at times larger dogs in the small dog section but those dogs are usually sweet, friendly, timid and don't bark or nip much if at all. If you have a larger dog, heavy set, or not timid then go for the large dog area, but if timid I wouldn't. The small dog area should really be for dogs 35lbs under. ANYWAY! My puppy enjoyed herself, I wish there was a little bit more agility pieces, but they run a lot so I guess the space is more important. We'll be back for sure however! It's very clean and for the most part folks seem to watch their dogs and avoid confrontation (at least on the small dog side) Be careful if you brings treats for your own dog, you will be swarmed! LOL read more

Went for the first time yesterday to the dog park and absolutely loved it! 5:30am trip there and absolutely loved it. Beautifully kept, plenty of space and poop bags to use. Also great hours! read more

I absolutely love this dog park. My 7 month old puppy has been going for a few times now and she loves it. The separate areas for small and large dog are great. The dog are playful, which made my puppy feel comfortable to play. The dog owners are very nice and friendly. Everyone watches out for their dog and doesn't mind petting other dogs as well. They have bags, water bowls, balls for the dogs to chase and run, plus agility items for dogs to play with. Overall you should bring your dog and enjoy not only the beautiful park, but the dog park! read more

I like the dog park except when it's muddy. The county should put down the ground cover that the South Mountain Dog Park in Maplewood has. Also I am really tired of the owners of small dogs coming to the large dog side and those little dogs provoke my Husky with unruly nipping behavior. Keep the little dogs segregated to their side and no harm will come to them by causing a fight with a 60 lb dog that is allowed to be there! Little dog owners keep your dogs on the small side. FOLLOW THE RULES CLEARLY POSTED! read more

Oreo loves this park! He met many a friends here. Unlike the dog parks around JC and NYC, this place is spacious. There is plenty of space for the dogs to roam and play and smell each other's poo poo. Most of the dogs here are well behaved. There is a water hose, it is well stocked with doggy bags, and there is even a time out place for naughty and aggressive dogs. For a tail wagging good time, bring your furry friends here. read more

This is probably the best dog park in the area. No matter how the weather is, there are always dogs playing in there. There are two large gated areas, one for small dogs and one for larger dogs. Majority of the dog owner's are very friendly. There's a few times I was there and an owner thought it was funny that her dog was nipping at other dogs' faces. Not cool. At times like that, I just remove my dog from the area and bring her over to the other gated area. The ground gets muddy quickly which can in turn, cause a very dirty dog to bring back home. Other than that, this is such a great park. read more

Fine, I suppose, as dog parks go, though no grass, limited water, and not a ton of shade in spring. Beware other patrons: I had a bizarre experience in which I was screamed at, bullied, and harassed for bringing my sleeping 5-month-old baby (strapped securely into an enclosed car seat 3 feet off the ground) into the park on a quiet weekday morning. Given this reception - patrons angrily citing rules that did not exist, and the remainder who pretended the incident had never happened and studiously ignored us - I am not surprised that other patrons are reporting the dog park is quiet and generally uninhabited. My son slept through the whole thing, but neither I nor my dog appreciated the chilly welcome. To potential visitors i say, try it out, but by all means, keep in mind that the canine patrons may be better behaved than the human ones. read more