Brookdale Dog Park — Attraction in Montclair

So we got a puppy in October 2021. Originally we went to the Lynhurst dog park and the gravel was insanely dusty and when you come home there is no option other than to give your dog a bath.

There’s also an insane woman there that threatens the majority of dog owners. She’s referred to as the “mayor”.

Even though Brookdale is 10 minutes longer to get there as well worth the drive because you don’t have to worry about your dog getting killed like Bear did in a recent event at the Lynhurst dog park. Brookdale dog park is incredibly safe compared to Lynhurst. Everybody knows each other, there are fresh water faucet bowls for dogs. They have a small side and a big side and on both sides they have Benches with awnings so owners aren’t stuck in direct sunlight there’s also trees so it’s not super bright mid day. I’ve had dogs my entire life and I used to live in the Hoboken area and nearly every dog park there has a dog as pompous as their owner. I love Monclair because everyone is down to earth, knows each other, helps new owners that are unfamiliar with how dogs play, and people Will recommend that dogs brought into a side that is not good for the weight of their dog (like bringing a Chihuahua into the large size area) is always a polite exchange. Either my boyfriend or I go there every day. It has great cell service there’s tons of places for you to sit and if you wanted to get some work done while your dog is playing. There are no aggressive dogs that go to this park unlike Lynhurst. Hoboken is the worst because my dog was almost decapitated. Well...

I used to think this place was great. Everyone is friendly and there are usually enough people there that our little terrier mix could find someone to befriend and wear himself out.

Note: My dogs are small so I’m generally thinking about the small dog side as I write this.

It’s fine for the area I guess. However my eyes have been opened. Brookdale very often gets TOO crowded, considering its relatively small size. Particularly on nice weekends. But hey, what can you do? Of course everyone wants to take their dogs to the park when it’s beautiful outside!

Also, it is dirt. Just dirt. Not sure if there is SUPPOSED to be stone dust or grass or something and it’s just worn or washed away? So the dirt doesn’t drain/absorb and it SMELLS all the time (which I thought was just a dog park thing because, ya know, dogs peeing everywhere). We pretty much expected my dogs to have fleas every time we left. They always NEEDED baths after coming here and I thought that was just a general dog park sacrifice we had to make.

So friends, I’m not just a bitter bunny: I’ve just seen that the grass CAN be greener. This is all in comparison to my favorite dog parks where my family lives. Those parks are grass and don’t retain the smell even though they get packed with dogs on the evenings and weekends. The dogs, of course, get dirty but they don’t feel like they just ran through a mud puddle. I’ve also yet to find a flea.

So Brookdale Dog Park is fine for what it is, thus an average 3 star rating from me. It just has a lot I feel it...

Very nice park close to GSP with track and more to see worth a scouting visit and often not crowded with 2 wishes unfilled. The single very pretty circular roadway with mature trees is restricted by 3 key entrances far apart and is one way. If you enter the wrong side or miss your destination in the park you have to drive all around or prepare to walk. MAYBE create 1 lane the other way with turnarounds? Unlikely so give yourself extra time.

However wish 2 is to give humans some of the attention dogs get who can romp and play and do their business near the heavily used track but but but....port o sans! Not friendly to visitors who cannot use their homes nearby before or after park use. Maybe next time I will knock on the door of the nearest home to ask to use their facilities or maybe the elected officials homes for town and county? There is a highway rest stop with a rear street entrance nearby. Mention my name for...