Fenced A decent size area for small dogs and a large area for big dogs. Decent dog park

If you believe in keeping your dog out of harms way then please stay away. Off leash dog parks are good in theory, but throw in the human factor and there goes the theory. The so called dog walkers, (or should I call them dog drivers?) that use the park give the business a bad name. They are clueless on dog behavior and body language so can never tell when trouble is brewing ahead of time and prevent it. One of them even stated she was bonded and insured so she didn't care that one of her dogs was being aggressive. People bring unneutered dogs and some even bring dogs in heat there. Giardia and bordetella keeps getting passed around. The City of New Rochelle does nothing to enforce the rules it posts. read more

Not a huge fan. Can be a great time for your dog... if the right type of dogs and owners are there. No one is perfect, but if you see your dog is pouncing on every dog... maybe (just maybe) your dog shouldn't be there. My dog is outgoing and sweet, and some dogs are terrors. They pale in comparison to their owners... What do you do? Get a thrill because your dog is being a menace. I really don't know if I ever want to go back. read more

I absolutely love this park, it's huge! I've never seen a park this big before, there's two fenced in areas, one for all dogs, and one specifically for smaller dogs (though I don't think anyone really follows as I've seen big dogs in the smaller fenced area). They are both huge, but the large area specifically is grand. And usually there are many dog owners around even on a cold day. We love this especially because it gives our pup so much room to run around, play, and explore. He's been very well trained and doesn't run too far from us despite it being a large area. Since we got our pup in November, we've only used this park in the winter time. It can get quite muddy so definitely bring your run-down shoes or combat boots! Also don't wear nice clothing. You'll definitely be jumped, pawed, or greeted by large dogs with muddy paws. I personally don't mind so my pants are always covered in dirt by the end of the day. I also don't recommend bringing nice balls, 8/10 times you're going to lose it. There are a lot of dogs and a lot of them will chase after any kind of bouncing/flying ball, steal it, and then run away with it. It's quite nasty but just use the dirty balls already lying on the ground. We have yet to explore the trails around the park, we see a lot of people with their dogs walking the trails. It's quite muddy so we're waiting for a dryer day that isn't too cold! read more

Wow. First time back to Ward Acres in two decades after purchasing a dog permit. I'm a resident and dog owner. Absolutely loved this place as a child. Read the reviews prior to obtaining the permit but disregarded as nonsense from non dog owners....especially the Westchester S. review. It pains me to say this but the reviews are spot on. Is there something in the air at this dog park? The people are just crazy. Dogs are fine. There's a group of individuals that seem to think that this park was made for there dogs only. Scary how evident that is after 1 VISIT! I watched and listened as they critiqued every person and dog in the park. One lady, who was smoking a cigarette while handling 12 dogs just outside the gate, warned me before I entered. Seriously? Twilight Zone moment. As for the grounds? The old barn is surrounded by a green industrial gate as it's crumbling to the ground. Dogs run off leash around the property so please consider that before bringing children. This may be allowed. There's dog poop everywhere. Again shame on the people. Listen, I too have fond memories of the Haunted House and Fair. I can't believe I'm saying this but I have to agree with ALL the negative posts about Ward Acres. Thanks to the PEOPLE this park is awful. And, the city does inherit some blame. Such a beautiful park has been destroyed and the city has seemingly done nothing to prevent or enhance. Omg....I actually saw the EMT trucks, parked with the engines running at the park! Wasted my $50. Never going back. The inmates run this asylum. read more

Yea this park may not be perfect due to the fact that some owners are batshit crazy but PLEASE PLEASE DISREGARD Westchester S review. To write a review on a dog park and give it 1 star because you feel it's wasted space and aren't a dog owner and want it to go away. Well guess what you are wasting your time and ruin yelp because this is for DOG PARKS not your personal running space that you and only you care about. So disregard that asinine review it is completely irrelevant. Now again though some owners may be a little cookie with there dogs and how they treat them that's not my business but the regulars who reside on the bench at the center by the tree are better off keeping to themselves. If you avoid them then the park is great. What do we look for in a dog park? Well a dog over of a golden retriever who just needs room to run with other dogs, that's what this place delivers. It's simple and to the point. Looking for more in a dog park the. Take you and your diva dog elsewhere. Amen! read more

I'm just back from this place today and finally have to side w/the negative reviews....Horrible people. My Husky was just mulled by a Pit Bull...! My Husky (11YO) and my other pup just entered less then 15 seconds and this guys dog was attacking him? The Pit Bulls owner came out saying it was my dogs fault? He said it's b/c my other pup is not neutered and his dog could smell him? We just entered the park...my lab ran the opposite direction upon entering and this guys dog attacked Husky that made the unfortunate turn in the wrong direction....It's my fault??? Crazy!!!! Crazy people! When we moved here I heard about this park and we went to New Rochelle city hall to purchase our permit and filed out the appropriate paper work that asked if our dog was neutered or not and we answered he was not neutered and they gave us a permit....It's perfectly fine to own an un-neutered dog...we were told from our vet that it's best not to neuter your dog until they're at least a year and a half old to ensure a healthy growth...bone structure and immune system. We have also contemplated having him breed with a female sometime soon? I have also seen over 30 dogs at the park and only 5 people??? that means 5-6 dogs per person? How as this safe? The people are dog walkers! They come in and talk to each other while the dogs run and poop all over the place and the dog walker can't keep up with the responsibility of picking it up? they talk to each other? What if a dog..(your dog) is being mulled 2 acres away? you think your dog walker is going to get there in time? sadly not! Emsters dog walking company is to blame! I have heard numerous complaints of these dog walkers destroy the dog park...We need the governments help like in Harrison and Port Chester that limit the number of dogs per person. Dog walkers should be required to pay for a license to walk dogs, they should be insured and bonded, I should be able to sue a dog walker for any medical procedures that occur due to the dog walkers negligence. As of now, you can't do anything to a dog walker you pay to walk your dog...! this has to stop! We go to Port Chester Dog Park for the safety of our pups as well as our own. P.S. We still go to Ward acres but only at times we have discovered to be safe times to go. read more

Gary S, I am the owner of Emster's Paws. We ONLY bring 4 dogs per person per trip, and we ARE licensed & insured. We require passes for all of our dogs. So PLEASE get your facts straight before you bash other people's businesses for no reason. read more

When I first purchased the permit ($50) to take our dog here I was totally siked, as it is a huge grassy dog park with trees and benches. However, after visiting several times, I quickly sank into dismay and realized I wasted good money. I must concur with reviewers before me that the other dog owners at this place make visiting here utterly unbearable. I have a pitbull. She is completely unaggressive and friendly to the point of ridiculousness. Unfortunately, this dog park uncovers the shameful ignorance of our locals. Upon entering, EVERY single time, uptight housewives, wannabe hipsters, and miserable dad's came running up to check-in and verify if my dog was "safe" and "appropriate" to be in the dog park. Usually, unless she was interacting with another bully breed or similarly discriminated breed, owners would usher their dogs away or just leave the park all together mumbling rudely about "ptbull" this and "pitbull" that. Even more annoying is that the park is split into two separate dog runs. One for small dogs and one for large dogs. Again, the miserable rubes that come here with aggressive chihuahuas and other barky, nippy toy breeds refuse (for some reason) to use the small dog run. Instead, they use the large dog park and then frantically dart and scream when larger dogs chase, smell or simply walk near their dogs. On two occasions, my dog was actually assaulted by other dog owners. Once a woman with 3 chihuahuas began screaming as if she saw a Yeti behind a tree because my dog was playing with her dogs. She then began to hit my dog with her purse. When I asked her not to touch my dog she began clutching her chest like a maniac and screaming that she just recently recovered from a heart attack. What this has to do with anything is beyond my understanding. On yet another occasion, another crazy woman with 2 chihuahuas was again in the large dog park and started screaming when my dog began attempting to play with her dogs. My dog was barking, as were hers and she began screaming for help that a pitbull was "attacking her". I approached and reminded her that barking is how dogs "talk", but she starting crying and screaming that she was afraid of pitbulls. Mind you, my dog was now sitting next to me. I suggested that she might be happier in the small dog park. This is when her inebriated husband ran over and tried to kick my dog. This was the last straw for my family, as we decided to not subject ourselves or our dog to this kind of lunacy anymore. Am I sore I wasted $50 on this place? Yes. Is it a shame that it is overrun with uptight freaks? Sure. Am I a little judgmental of the psychosis I've witnessed. Absolutely justified. We spend a great deal of time in LA and our dog is always with us. When on the left coast, we visit the Silverlake dog park daily and are greeted with friendly, normal dog owners who aren't so easily swayed by sensationalized news stories about vicious dogs. If in LA with your dog, I highly suggest that park. However, if in lower Westchester and you don't have an AKC show dog with papers attached to the collar, stick to your own backyard. It's a lot less stressful. read more

Great dog run that is huge. Things it has going for it: - Separate large and small dog runs - Both runs are huge - Water in large dog run - 10 ft high plastic fencing - Plenty of room for dogs to really run - Plenty of seating scattered through out run - So much room that you can get away from others of you want to - Plenty of on-street parking Things it has going against it: - So big that some owners don't bother picking up after the dogs or lose track of their dogs (which can cause problems with other dogs) - No water in small dog run - No bathrooms near run but in park - Fee to use run Now this dog run is unique in its size alone. Its something like 3 acres. The fencing they use I have never seen at any other run I have been to but it seems to work. Now if you have read my other reviews I usually try to stick to just the run features, but after doing some research, seeing the other reviews here on yelp and what I saw when I was there, it seems that some of these owners are a little uptight. Should of known this place was a little off when I saw two moms ready to throw down in the parking lot. So my review is just about the facility and its features and not some of the nuts that go here. One thing I did not know until after I went there with my guy is there is a $100 annual fee for up to 4 dogs if you are a not a New Rochelle resident, $50 a year if you are.....to use this run (there are no signs that I saw at the run about this, but maybe I missed it). At one time there was a fee to walk your dog in the park on a leash (first I have ever heard of that) Now I don't know if there are people in the parks department or town government that don't like dogs or they are looking at this as a opportunity to shake down their citizens but even though its a large area I don't feel up to a $100 annual fee is warranted for use of a public facility. Most other municipalities don't charge their citizens to use dog runs. Not worth the $100 or a fine, so I don't see myself going there again. If they added water in the small dog run, provide poop bags and nix that up to $100 annual fee, this could be a 5 star run. Dog runs/parks I have been to so far: http://www.yelp.com/list/nyc-area-dog-parks-runs-queens-5 read more

Great Park! Beautiful scenery. Perfect for dog owners and non-dog owners alike

Each dog legally needs a park-use permit, costing $100 per year for nonresidents. Don't go on weekends or without knowing the more obscure park exits, which might help you escape without a ticket (~$250). read more

I take my dog here all the time. It's great. I'm not sure why there are one star reviews. There's lots of space and it's clean. People are usually normal. The dogs are cute. read more

We live in NYC and were visiting family for thanksgiving. We have two dogs, including an 8 1/2 yr husky. Run is indeed gigantic which is great but unfortunately have to concur with the other reviewers on the people potentially being "off" here, having watched an owner punch his dog after it attacked our dog. Although admittedly this was just one experience, our dog who is not aggressive was attacked (and limped for a few minutes and then was fine...she is a 65 lb husky/hound mix so not a tiny dog). Things happen but the upsetting thing is that the owner then ran at his dog, got on the ground and then punched his dog in the face. Horrible to watch and then watch others do and say nothing. We told him that hitting his dog will only make his dog's behavior worse (his dog had previously jumped on us and he came over and screamed at his dog....not a good practice and his yelling was sufficiently late after the event that the dog likely had no idea whey he was being yelled at). Given the behavior of this owner and the fact that the others didn't say anything, we are unlikely to return even though it's a great space. In 8 years of taking our dogs to NYC dog runs, we've never seen owner behavior like this. read more

Let's start with the good. Ward Acres is a beautiful park. I've heard 60+ acres but not sure with walking trails and 2 enclosed dog parks one for large dogs and one for small dogs under 30lbs. The park is shaded for sunny days and well maintained for pet owners. I have a puppy and wanted to socialize him early to other dogs. The great news is that there are plenty of other pet owners with dogs who are friendly and respectful of others in how they allow their dogs to behave and in engaging in conversation. Depending on what time of day you go you can meet quite a few nice people and playful dogs. Now the bad, New Rochelle is full of snooty suburban housewives with attitudes that think their better than everyone else. They turn up their noses at people and act like they own the park. Well I don't think your $50-$100 permit entitles you to show attitude to other people. This park is New Rochelle at its best and worst. Obviously a factor of the populous in and around the Westchester area. Also, there are some dog walkers who blatantly abuse the 4 dog per person rule and bring in herds of dogs (no joke I saw 2 women with 20 dogs between the two of them) Obviously with that many dog its impossible to contain them and trouble ensues. One male dog was overly aggressive and in heat and repeatedly humping on a female dog while the walkers just ignored the situation while herding their 20+ dogs. In another situation, a major dog fight broke out and the owner of the dog who started it had a very casual attitude not making an effort to contain his animal. On another occasion the police had to be called because the dog walkers had gotten into a fight! I too have to agree with the other reviewer that the people are the problem. Like children, dogs personalities are a factor of who is training them. Crazy people translates to crazy dogs. Terrible shame. They are also the same people who refuse to clean up the poop from their animals because they are too busy sitting on the bench on their cell phones or reading a paper to pay attention to what their dog is doing. Get a life people if you can't handle the dog don't get one!!!! I've gone on too long but want to give people a realistic view of what to expect. Do I recommend spending the money on the permit? No, afraid not. Do the trails with your dog, you can meet some other owners that way and its quite lovely. To the other responsible pet owners that I've met in the park who were incredibly great to be around apologies. This is not directed to you. Just the opposite, you make the experience worthwhile. read more

this dog park has potential, its huge and clean yes. My dog is a rottweiler/ Italian mastiff.shes not aggressive at all. she just wants to run around and play with other dogs. Every time we have come to this dog park she has been jumped by dogs or bitten or she has been growled at. what happens is that the dogs are playing then they get her on her back and they continue to jump on her and nip at her while she is defenseless. the owners don't do anything about this.. today she was there having fun then began to become defenseless as the other dogs got too aggressive with her, tail wrapped in between her legs my boyfriend goes in and tries to break it up he has her by the harness and what do the owners do? one is on his cell phone just calling the dogs name while she is not listening and the other is just watching. no no no read more

Having a completely fenced in dog park is wonderful! The biggest issue is when people don't pay full attention to their dogs and don't pick up after them! But the benefits of the park totally outweigh this negative and the dogs are people are for the most part great. read more