Walking your pets: Top parks for exercising your animals

There are many reasons why people love living in Sydney's Inner West. With a vibrant, affluent lifestyle and streets brimming with culture, it's the perfect place for interesting, fun loving people to settle down and dig their roots in.

Those of you with furry family members will love the wide range of parks and open spaces in the region that are sure to become your dog's new favourite place to explore.

Elkington Park

Elkington Park is located on the northwest side of Balmain and edges up against the water, giving you an amazing view of the Parramatta River to enjoy while you're out with your dog. The area has a lot of shade and space for dogs and children to enjoy - especially heading into the warmer summer months.

The area features a band rotunda which was built in 1936. This historic gem offers shelter from harsher weather as well as providing an outdoor venue for small-medium sized gathering. This could be invaluable information this summer, especially if there are children's birthdays or family gatherings on the horizon.

Gladstone Park

If you're searching for a centralised park in the heart of Balmain, look no further than Gladstone Park. Across from the road from the hospital and behind Balmain Public School, this park is a fantastic place to chill out in the sun and take your four-legged family members for a lovely walk.

While dogs have to be leashed at all times, it can be a great place to pass through during your walks, with a number of activities always happening in the space. It's also close enough to the local amenities to afford stopping off for a coffee or a bite to eat on the way home.

These are just two of the many parks around the Balmain area, which could be a great feature to keep an eye on if you're considering purchasing property in Sydney's Inner West suburbs.