The Most Dog-Friendly Neighborhoods in Newark
Newark is an up-and-coming city. Ongoing revitalization projects are reinvigorating neighborhoods throughout the city, but for dog owners, relocating to Newark might pose some challenges. Ranked No. 93 on Wallethub’s list of the most pet-friendly cities, Newark has a long way to go before it sees lower veterinary costs, more pet-friendly businesses, and more dog parks.
Don’t be surprised if you have to travel outside the city to provide the best care for your pet. Nevertheless, the Newark community actively supports your four-legged companions, if you know where to look.
Here’s what to expect from Newark’s most dog-friendly neighborhoods.
Forest Hill
This beautiful historic neighborhood with stately pre-World War II mansions borders Branch Brook Park. The park is the jewel of the Essex County Park system with plenty of open space and walking trails for you and your pup to stretch your legs. However, all dogs must remain leashed.
Fortunately, Forest Hill is minutes away from two well-loved dog runs, Watsessing Park in Bloomfield and Brookdale Park in Montclair. There, your dogs can be let off-leash to enjoy an adventure outside the city.
From Forest Hill, you’ll also have the easiest drive to East Orange Animal Hospital, a preferred vet for many locals in East Orange.
Downtown Newark
As the center of the city, Downtown Newark offers the most for pet owners. If you’re staying local, make time for two parks—Washington Park and Military Park—which have been wonderfully restored in recent years. Park groups host community events, festivals, and farmers markets throughout the year. But Mulberry Commons, a three-acre open space project, will excite dog owners. The park’s walkways, outdoor seating, and pavilion will link Newark Penn Station to the Prudential Center.
From Newark Penn Station, you can easily hop on the PATH train, head to nearby Jersey City, and spoil your pup at boutique pet shops like Hound About Town. (Small dogs are allowed on PATH and NJ Transit trains, but they must be in a carrier.) Or take a day trip to Liberty State Park; just be sure to keep your pup on a leash.
For out-of-towners, Hotel Indigo Newark, a luxury hotel near Penn Station, allows pets under 50 pounds for a fee of $75.
Newark residents were delighted when Petco opened in the restored Hahne & Co. building in 2017, bringing much-needed access to pet supplies and grooming services for the city’s pet owners. The Newark Museum, also catching on to the wave of dog owners moving into the city, has hosted outdoor movies for dogs and their humans. Be on the lookout for the event to return during the summer.
Lincoln Park
This four-block neighborhood—an emerging arts and music district—is anchored by the renovated Newark Symphony Hall and Lincoln Park, one of Newark’s three colonial-era parks. The Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District supports many of Lincoln Park’s redevelopment projects and cultural events. In a few years, this area will be ideal for pet owners. But for now, Lincoln Park is a short walk or transit ride to Downtown Newark’s other dog-friendly parks and neighborhoods.
The Ironbound
In the Ironbound, you’ll find Newark Veterinary Hospital to take care of your furry friend. And since the Ironbound is the heart of Newark’s foodie scene, many restaurants permit dogs on their outdoor patios. Each summer, favorite neighborhood spot Hell’s Kitchen Lounge hosts Woofstock, a fundraiser to help dogs find new homes and benefit the Friends of the Newark Animal Shelter.
Injecting new life into the Ironbound is the renovation of Riverfront Park. Four acres of revitalized walkways and overlooks opened in December 2017; perfect for your dog to enjoy. Once complete, this oasis by the Passaic River will stretch from the Ironbound up to the former site of the Newark Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Downtown Newark.