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View the new green dog park interactive map or download our green dog parks map to find a park with off-leash hours. The Park and Recreation Commission established off-leash hours and parks to balance the needs of both dog owners and visitors without dogs. The program was developed with the following considerations:
The commission also sought public input through public meetings, and conducted a pilot program and assessment prior to full implementation.
Fields may be completely closed when they are wet due to inclement weather, if heavy rain is anticipated, during the spring thaw, or for other reasons related to maintaining healthy fields. We post park closed signs, but you can also call the green dog hotline, 617-879-4850, 24 hours a day to check if the fields are closed, or you can call the Parks Division Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. at 617-879-5650.
Please also use your judgment about using the fields in wet conditions. Note that synthetic turf fields generally do not close due to weather, but dogs are not allowed on these fields, whether on or off-leash. You are still welcome to walk your leashed dog on the paved paths at any time, including during field closures.
You can report off-leash or other violations when you are in the park to the Brookline Police Department at 617-730-2222. Someone is available to take your call 24 hours a day. We encourage you to contact the Police if you witness an aggressive dog or other unsafe conditions in a park.
Park rangers also regularly patrol the parks and assist visitors, and are available to discuss any violations or concerns you have. You can also report issues by calling 617-879-5650 or emailing [email protected].
The Park and Recreation Commission continues to assess the success of the Green Dog Program. They also consider information obtained from park ranger reports, police reports, and public comments in their assessment. Off-leash hours or parks could change in the future since the Park and Recreation Commission does has the authority to temporarily or permanently close, or modify the boundaries of off-leash areas for any of the following reasons:
If any changes are made to the program, updates will be posted on this website, park signage will be changed, and often neighbors will be notified.
View the new green dog park interactive map or download our green dog parks map to find another park with off-leash hours. In addition, you may walk your leashed dog at any of our active parks, excluding synthetic turf fields, playgrounds, sand boxes, tennis courts, basketball courts, nature sanctuaries and planted flower and shrub beds. Please observe park signage and note that certain other areas may also be closed to dogs (e.g., a portion of Harry Downes Field).
Guest permits are available for visitors. A 2-day permit costs $5 and a 1 week permit costs $10. All dogs must be licensed and have a current rabies vaccination to participate in the off-leash program. In addition to being licensed, the other criteria for the dogs include the following: dogs must be at least 4 months old, not in heat, vaccinated, healthy, and not aggressive towards other dogs or people. Friends and visitors must follow all other program rules and regulations.
Non-residents who want to take their dogs off-leash more often are also welcome to register for the program.
Picking up after your dog, whether on or off-leash is required by Brookline town bylaw, and is punishable by fines and/or removal from the park and the off-leash program. Everyone should bring something with them, such as a bag, for cleaning up, and should pay particular attention when dogs are off-leash. Cleaning up feces is not only the law, it is also the polite, responsible thing to do.
Since all our parks are shared by many users, it is particularly important to remove feces so other users, such as children playing sports or people picnicking, don’t come into contact with these messy, potentially unhealthy remains.
In addition, we ask all users to discard all trash and take other personal items with them when they leave.
The Park and Recreation Commission, Parks and Open Space Division, and Recreation Department all welcome your questions and comments. Please check the Green Dog Program webpage for further information and updates or contact us at 617-879-5650 or via email at [email protected].