Politics & Government

Smithtown Town Opens Dog Walk Trail in Nesconset

Local dog owners get a designated path to walk, run with their pets at Charles P. Toner Park.

UPDATE: This article was updated on Aug. 18 to include statements from Charles Barrett regarding the cost of creating and maintaining the dog walk trail at Charles P. Toner Park.

Town of Smithtown dog owners can now legally grab man's best friend and head down to the local park for a walk. 

Smithtown Town Parks Director Charles Barrett said a dog walk trail was opened Charles P. Toner Park in Nesconset, adjacent to the Nesconset branch of the Smithtown Special Library District, last week. 

Find out what's happening in Hauppaugewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We had gotten multiple requests from residents, 'Wouldn't it be nice if we could walk our dogs there.' So I approached Town Board and said the park could facilitate it, there's enough room," Barrett said. 

For Town officials, it provided a solution to an ongoing problem where local dog owners were walking their pets on the athletic fields. Two Town employees were set to work clearing the path during their regular work day hours, according to Barrett.

Find out what's happening in Hauppaugewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The dog walk trail starts near the bathrooms buildings, at the top of the path leading down to the Nesconset gazebo. The dirt path is approximately 20 yards into the woods and runs parallel to the paved asphalt trail for runners and joggers.

“It’s a nice place where along that trail, you can take your dog for a walk and get some exercise,” Barrett said.

Town of Smithtown rules requires that all dogs be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet, be fully vaccinated and licensed with the Town. A sign posting these rules was created in house by the Town Parks Department.

Dog owners are also expected to pick up after their pet. Three dog litter stations have been ordered, at the cost of approximately $200 each, to be installed in the upcoming weeks, according to the parks director.

"There was relatively no expense in establishing the trail," Barrett said. "We have regular maintenance at the park daily to clean up. It's three more trash cans to empty."

The Nesconset dog walk trail is one of two in the Smithtown area and the first at a town park.

“Dogs have always been permitted at the Town beaches at the end of bathing season, from October to March. This is the first park in the Smithtown system that is permitting dogs,” the parks director said.

Blydenburgh County Park has two fenced in dog run areas where owners can play with their pet off leash. 

Barrett said he is considering adding a fenced in area for dogs and their owners to the park in the future.

Nesconset dog owners at Charles P. Toner Park on Tuesday said they were unaware of the new trail, but said they would be interested in coming back and using it in the future. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here