Stroud Region Dog Park Opens in East Stroudsburg, Focusing on Exercise, Socialization and Community

A one-acre fenced field at Brodhead Creek Park finally gave East Stroudsburg dog owners a place where a hard-running dog could sprint, settle and start over without leaving town. The Stroud Region Dog Park, at 4002 N. Fifth St. in Monroe County, opened as a practical answer for people looking for more than a quick leash walk.

The new park is open from sunrise to sunset and includes a waste station, a small but important sign that this space was built for daily use, not just a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Its one-acre footprint gives dogs enough room to move while fitting alongside other uses at Brodhead Creek Park, and the fenced setup makes it a controlled outlet for dogs that need real exercise and social time.

That need had been building for years. Back in 2023, Autumn Hawthorne said many residents were asking where they could safely take their dogs, especially because nearby dog parks were far away and some downtown residents did not have yards. At the same time, dog owner Nicole Murray said a dedicated dog park was needed for people who enjoy being outside with their dogs. The field that was ultimately chosen had sat vacant for several years and was widely seen as an underused recreation resource.

The park also grew out of a long fundraising push that was estimated at about $50,000 when it was first discussed. The original plan called for six-foot-high fencing, separate areas for larger dogs and smaller dogs, along with trees and benches for owners. The project came together through community fundraising, with help from state and local support, township backing and partners including Willowtree Inn Restaurant, which held trivia nights on the second Thursday of every month to help raise money.

The opening was built around more than a walk-through. A free canine behavior seminar from University of Pets covered basic commands and the AKC Canine Good Citizen program, and a Search and Rescue Recovery Team demonstration added a working-dog edge to the day. For high-drive dogs, that mix matters: it is the difference between a fenced patch of grass and a place that can actually support training, manners and controlled social contact. Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission said the park was meant to create a positive dog-park culture, and the broader regional planning around Stroud, Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg shows this was designed as part of a shared recreation network, not a one-off amenity.