Riverside Park is a scenic waterfront public park stretching four miles from 72nd to 158th streets along the Hudson River in the Upper West Side, Morningside Heights, and Hamilton Heights neighborhoods of Manhattan, New York City. The park consists of a strip of land with a width of between 100 and 500 feet, situated between the Hudson River/Henry Hudson Parkway and the serpentine Riverside Drive. The park is part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, a pedestrian and bicycle route around Manhattan’s waterfront; it is operated and maintained by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, though its operating activities are supported by the Riverside Park Conservancy. Dogs must be leashed in all areas from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., except in the four dog runs: one under the Miller Highway in Riverside Park South, and three others at 72nd, 87th and 105th Streets. Parks Department rules provide for “courtesy hours” when dogs may be off leash from the time the park opens until 9 a.m. and from 9 p.m. until the park closes, except in the following areas:
Anywhere in Sakura Park, 122nd to 123rd Streets between Riverside Drive and Claremont Avenue
The Forever Wild Bird Sanctuary, 116th to 129th Streets
On the landscaped islands between Riverside Drive and the Service Road
Between 101st and 110th Streets Between 83rd and 91st Streets Below 79th Street
Dogs are never allowed on ball fields, in playgrounds, or on passive-use lawns.
More information on Riverside Park
Riverside Park Dog Walking Guidelines
