Dogs off Leash

Fairmount Park regulations require that all dogs be on a leash no more than six feet long. Penalties for breaking this regulation include hefty fines of up to $300. A number of dog walkers let their dogs off leash, but even "good" dogs can be disruptive to walkers or runners, scare horses and interrupt the quiet appreciation of the Wissahickon Valley's natural beauty. 

Also, dogs off leash are not liable to stick to trails and can add to the erosion of the Park's slopes; ruin fragile vegetation; and disturb small mammals and ground nesting birds. Friends of the Wissahikon has brought attention to this issue through its newsletters and continues to ask Park users to be aware of the regulation and mindful of the negative impact of dogs off leash.