West Side Rag » Enforcement 'Blitz' Coming to Local Park Where Dogs Roam a Little Too Free – westsiderag.com

pawznews February 6, 2022

Bull Moose Dog Run. Photograph by Michael McDowell.
By Marie Holmes
At a meeting of the Community Board 7 Parks & Environment Committee on Wednesday, January 26, the board passed a resolution to address concerns surrounding Theodore Roosevelt Park’s Bull Moose Dog Run, adjacent to the American Museum of Natural History on 81st Street.
In attendance was NYC Parks Manhattan Borough Commissioner Bill Castro, who responded to community members’ concerns and suggestions with a promise to send in Parks Enforcement Patrol officers as early as next Monday.
“The solution is a summons book,” said Castro.
Members and speakers agreed that the primary issues regarding the dog run are noise disturbance and illicit use of a nearby Theodore Roosevelt Park lawn as an off-leash area. Several speakers noted that these problems have been exacerbated by the surge in dog ownership during the pandemic.
Compounding the problem of non-sanctioned use of the lawn is the surface material of the dog run. When it was renovated and reopened last July, the ground was covered with rice gravel, characterized as “not hospitable to dogs” by Elaine Boxer, an active member of the dog-run community. In a previous CB7 Parks & Environment Committee meeting, Boxer had reported that the contractor in charge of the renovation was unable to procure the pea gravel used previously in the dog run, hence the introduction of the sharper rice gravel.
Robyn Epstein, board member of the Theodore Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association (TRPNA) and president of the 35 W 81st Street Co-Op, said that her pup, Macho, suffered a detached cornea after being hit in the eye by a piece of the rice gravel.
The gravel issue has resulted in “a second de facto dog recreation area,” according to Steve Anderson, president of TRPNA, the block association for 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.
A de facto dog recreation area has sprung up nearby. Photograph via TRPNA.
Linda Alexander, an area resident and CB7 board member, shared photos and a short video, which she said were taken recently, of dogs exuberantly cavorting on the lawn, located near the northwest corner of the park, while owners lounged carefree on the grass nearby. Such trespassing on the lawn, says Anderson, results in damage to the grass and an increase in already intolerable noise.
Members of the The Friends of Roosevelt Park, which receives funding from the Museum of Natural History and direct donations, spoke of the long-standing issue of excessive noise emanating from the dog run at all hours. The genesis of the issue is structural, as the dog run abuts the 20-foot garage wall of the museum’s planetarium, “catapulting” noise into the facing apartment buildings on 81st Street, according to Peter Wright, who spoke on behalf of Friends of Roosevelt Park.
Wright gave a comprehensive overview of solutions that have been proposed over the years to ameliorate the noise problem. Two possibilities quickly dismissed as ineffective were the planting of bushes against the wall and the installation of “acoustifence” material. The acoustics firm Cerami also explored the insertion of 10-foot-high transparent barriers alongside the dog run, which it estimated would absorb 50% of noise, at a cost of approximately $300,000. This money had been previously earmarked in the city budget by Gale Brewer, however, it remains to be confirmed that the money is still available for this project.
Friends of Roosevelt Park’s immediate recommendation was a return to a policy that had been in effect many years ago: closing the dog run overnight. The group proposed a 9 p.m. closing time for the dog run, at which point it would be locked by a parks employee. “We think that this proposal is the most practical,” Wright concluded. “It means there will be barking up to a certain hour,” he acknowledged, “but not at midnight.”
Commissioner Castro began his response by noting that the Parks Department had reached out to the supplier about changing the surface material of the dog run, and they were told the pea gravel was still not available. He suggested trying to find “an alternative surface.” He expressed doubts about the efficacy of the transparent barriers, but was an enthusiastic proponent of increased enforcement.
“We had a problem in an East side park and we brought our Parks Enforcement Patrol in,” said Castro. ”It really turned things around,” he said, promising to have officers dispatched to Theodore Roosevelt Park as early as Monday. “I will have them both day and evening and we will blitz this,” he said.
At the meeting’s end, the committee passed a resolution which outlined the issues affecting those living in proximity to the park, recommending that the dog run establish official hours of 7 a.m.-9 p.m., as well as an increase in Parks Enforcement Patrol presence to issue summonses for rules violations such as allowing dogs to run off-leash on the lawn.
TRPNA is forming a working group and is particularly interested in hearing from those who use the dog run. Email [email protected] for more information.
If they city wants to do a summons blitz that will really make a difference, they should try moving violations for cars and bicycles – red lights, stop signs, illegal turns, etc. That could save lives as opposed to merely dampen some dogs barking.
Wow, I can’t believe I just read that whole thing!?! My head is spinning.:)
It’s amazing to me that such a seemingly petty and meaningless “controversy” ends up causing so much agita on the UWS…and the potential expense!! Just Wow.
We really do have a full range on issues to deal with here on the UWS in 2022. Some are literally life and death…and then there is stuff like this.
Personally, I love dogs and don’t really care where they run around. Just please pick up after all those cute little pups.
You might love dogs, but many of us don’t. And I would rather people follow the rules.
If you don’t like dogs that you shouldn’t be near a dogrun or live in the city. Besides, wouldn’t you RATHER have a GREAT PLACE for dogs to run around freely in a dog space with proper gravel, environment? This way it satisfies everyone.
And to put a time limit of 7am-9pm is RIDICULOUS. Some ppl have a different work schedule and need to have access to the dogrun at later hours. Do you want to continue having dog issues running on the grass?
Diana – I can’t believe you seriously said “If you don’t like dogs that you shouldn’t be near a dogrun or live in the city.” Obviously humans take precedence over dogs. Also, most people can’t just pick up and change apartments in the city. And that’s a big leap from Theodore Peterson merely asking that dog owners follow the rules.
That being said, I do think the 81st Street block association is being pretty ridiculous about their noise complaints and the $300,000 barrier to accommodate the demands of the association’s privileged members is a colossal waste of public funds. Perhaps they should pay for the barrier themselves.
Love dogs though don’t have one right now.
Don’t get all the people who let their dogs off leash…
These folks know the rules
Seems to have increased since Covid…
Plus West Siders routinely taking dogs into food stores and drug stores…
What’s happening?
ml – whatever you do, stay away from Europe.
You will see dogs in restaurants and shops.
Amazingly, no one suffers from it.
There’s something about Americans and freaking out when they see a dog in a store.
How about an “enforcement blitz” against the illegal and unlicensed dirt bikes and ATV that maraud without hinderance and literally do wheelies on Broadway for blocks at a time…
I hope the blitz comes to Riverside Park next. The lawn in the Crabapple Grove is completely gone – it’s just mud; now dogs are being cheered on as they run up and down the hillsides of the Promenade, even right after a rain so the dogs’ nails tear up the grass and soil; Suicide Hill near Hippo Park being equally devastated … I know it’s great for the dogs, but it’s hard to watch.
Dogs didn’t tear those areas up. Kids and games like soccer (which were prohibited when they were fenced off) did.
So, caved to the “noise complaints” IN NYC but nothing being done about the harmful surface for dogs, which is basically creating a wasted and dangerous dog park. Nice.
Fix.
The.
Surface.
Enforce the law to keep bike riders off the sidewalks—making it dangerous to take a leashed dog for a walk. The food delivery people are out of control and no one does a thing about it!
Solution: Let’s give the sidewalk cyclists far safer streets by reclaiming some of THAT precious public space from murderous polluting 4-wheelers. As for dogs: With the exception of a few diminutive snappers and yappers, I like dogs. But sometimes I like them more than I like their owners, who too often unleash their pets and take amusement at watching them chase and threaten area wildlife–animals already threatened by severe habitat loss.
Habitat loss? Are you referring to squirrels or pigeons?
I attended the Community Board hearing on this issue and was surprised that improved fencing was not among the various thoughtful solutions proposed to the problem of trespassing dogs and their owners on the lawns. These lawns in the north part of the park are the only ones to have flimsy temporary fencing and not the wrought iron used on the perimeter on all four sides of the museum as well as on 77th Street. The proposed fencing shown in the Gilder Center’s proposed restoration of the park is laughable–two low parallel bars that won’t prohibit anything or anybody. Rather than concentrate on enforcement, we should make it more difficult for anyone to access the lawns in the first place.
Enforcement can’t come soon enough! Entitled people don’t care that children use that lawn in summer, or that they are turning it into a mud pit. They certainly don’t care when I point it out to them! As a dog owner and dog lover, get out that summons book!!!
Indeed, the entitlement of some dog owners and sympathizers is on full display in these comments. Because the renovated dog run is not completely to our liking, through no one’s fault, we will take over multiple adjacent lawns which are clearly marked off limits and turn them into mud. Which they have. This is textbook tragedy of the commons. Community living means respecting others and the regulations we have around that. Not just doing whatever you “personally” like.
As someone said above, children are probably turning these areas into mud pits faster than the dogs are. All people breaking these rules should face a summons, entitled dog owners and entitled parents alike.
You use a summons book to combat bad design, improper materials and a lack of posted hours/locks?
Perfectly said.
No one is entitled to an amenity like a dog run. But even if they were, those three factors don’t provide justification for making one’s own rules that affect others’ use of public space. When cyclists ride on the sidewalk, pass red lights, and go the wrong way, would you respect their justifications for factors affecting their use of the bike lanes? That’s exactly what you’re suggesting. Public amenity not functioning to your wishes? Do your own thing.
There were signs and locks, but they were removed by the violators on too many occasions to count. I have two dogs and don’t like the new surface in the dog run, but that doesn’t entitle me to go on the museum lawn and allow my dogs to ruin the grass by doing their business there and digging holes. We live in an extremely dog-friendly neighborhood, with plenty of places to take them, including other dog runs, and Central and Riverside Parks. The violators are entitled and selfish. People should be able to use the lawn, with or without children, without worrying what they are sitting on. And, to those of say they pick up after their dogs, the gardener told me there is poop everywhere, especially in the plantings. Just stop it already!
Blitz’s are only temporary. I once complained to a police officer why he wasn’t doing anything to a problem we had just witnessed, I was told the Blitz was last week!
Dogs need to be controlled in all the parks. I have been attacked in Central Park, more than once, by dogs off a leash.
So the Board can find immediate and punitive solutions to dog noise and disturbances, but are flummoxed on how to deal with the rampant rat situation.
I wonder if the enforcement bark is bigger than its bite?
Maybe its true, it is a dog eat dog world.
Many dog owners use fenced in areas off the bridle path between 69th and, at least, 72nd Street as their personal,private dog runs.(They climb over or push down the fencing) They do not clean up or fill in the holes that their dogs make.Others walk on the many paths,even in the Ramble,with unleashed dogs.It is selfish.Yes, there is a pandemic and the never-ending gloom it generates but being selfish is not a positive contribution.Yes,I know there our greater problems with more dangerous outcomes but that is not an excuse.
It’s just mind boggling that anyone is devoting their time to this when we’re facing so many DIRE issues in the city right now.
>>…dogs exuberantly cavorting on the lawn, located near the northwest corner of the park, while owners lounged carefree on the grass nearby.<<
In any other place this description would sound like a little piece of heaven.
An off-leash dog collided with me last year in Central Park and I required a complete replacement of my ACL…so what seems like heaven to you seems like hell to me. Dogs are not allowed off leash in most places and there are good reasons for this. Rolling your eyes and saying you love dogs lacks empathy for the many people who don’t share your views.
Appreciate this article as the muddy poopy park space is super annoying for humans who’s like to use it!
Asking people to keep the volume down with their dogs after 9 pm really should not be a big ask. Do people really take their dogs to a dog run after 9 pm? I don’t think that not doing that is a big sacrifice.
If your dog needs exercise so badly, run with it on a leash. I had a dog as a kid and like dogs, but the entitlement of NYC dog owners is out of control.
Seriously? Yes people go to take their dogs out at night. I take my dog to the dog park between 10-11 every single night. There is zero barking or nuisance, it’s just what she prefers for her evening walk and we live nearby. I strenuously request the community does not impose a ridiculously early closing time for zero reason or benefit.
There is a difference between taking your dog out for a quick walk to do its business and hanging out in the dog park. Who wants to be there that late at night? Not sure if I would even feel safe.
We should have a contest for “most entitled UWS Special Interest Group.”
What makes the dog park an inappropriate place to take your dog to pee at night? It’s completely safe, I’ve been going for years in the evening. There’s no “hanging out” or nuisance, and who is the entitled one here? Those who wish to use public goods or those looking to impose artificial restrictions on others to satisfy their own interests? I would obviously say the latter.
This privilege on parade in this meeting was nearly grotesque. A borough commissioner and staff spent 1 1/2 hours listening to the wealthy and entitled folks on 81st between CPW and Columbus – and their friends on CB7 – complain about the noise of those who bring their dogs to this park. And the MBPO pledged $300K to solve the problem? With all that’s going on in the district this is how we’re spending our time and money?
What’s up with all the doggie dookie on the sidewalks? Pardon the description, but there’s a lot of wet, smeared poo all over the place.
Before making up their own laws about barking, the CB and complainers should refer to the already existing NYC Noise Code.
See page 4 of this pdf: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dep/downloads/pdf/air/noise/noise-code-guide-summary.pdf.
Animal noises such are barking are not deemed a nuisance unless the noise is continuous for 5+ minutes 10pm to 7am or 10+ minutes 7am to 10pm.
My impressions and takeaways given the code are: 1. If hours are to be limited, the dog run should not close any earlier than 10pm, a seeming demarcation line for quiet time. 2. 311 complaints made by 81st St residents likely were deemed unfounded by whoever investigates such complaints. The dog(s) are not barking continuously for the required 5 or 10 minutes. 3. NY has noise. Everyone who lives in NYC knows this and should accept it. The code acknowledges noise and gives reasonable limits. 4. If 81st St wants a sound barrier, they should pay for that themselves, through double paned windows, etc, as many NYC residents do. Taxpayers should not foot a bill to reduce noise bothering a handful of people when that noise is apparently within legal limits and when that noise can be resolved in other ways at non-public expense.
Parks were full of off leash dogs today. As cute as it is to see dogs happily frolicking in the snow, they can also do that on a leash. Dogs were running through areas packed with kids. Some of the dogs were bigger than the kids. Leash laws exist for a reason – there are times and places for dogs to play off leash. At a minimum, try to do it in a less crowded area, not near the popular sledding areas.
If my dog didn’t have 2 $350 vet visits in the past 5 months from the bull moose dog run and she actually ran around and had fun on that terrible surface, then I’d be happy to use it.
The irony of this is that Bull Run is just one block from Central Park, which has official offleash hours from 9 pm to 9 AM, and these owners are just too lazy to exercise their digs before office hours. So, no sympathy there. On the other hand you can’t expect dogs to use a run with a harmful surface. There are dozens of runs throughout the city that use something other than pea gravel. Find out what it is and have yhe contractor order it.
This is painful to read.
1) Dogs improve human health, both mental and physical.
2) Dogs in the home improve the child development (physical and emotional) of the young.
3) Off-leash times in the park are a privilege, not a right. Unfortunately, there have been numerous attempts to remove this privilege and the foundation is cracking.
5) The primary responsibility of owning a dog is ensuring the dog’s health and well-being. This requires exercise, sometimes off-leash.
6) A second responsibly is ensuring that you act responsibly as a member of the community. For example, not cleaning up after your dog conveys a great deal about you, your values, and the type of person you are.
We are all a part of this community. There are ways to make this work. We all pay taxes. We all contribute to the social fabric.
This is painful to read.
Yes, it is painful to read—may I?” 
1. Dogs improve human health, both mental and physical.
1A. A dog—one of those dogs with very short, almost flesh colored ‘fur’, pink lipped, pink rimmed eyes,—dare I say that it resembled a mash up of breeds including pit bull?—bit off two joints of my ring finger. I was trying to be affectionate, patting its head, owner present.
 2) Dogs in the home improve the child development (physical and emotional) of the young.
2A. Fallen dog fur requires constant removal. It cannot be eliminated. And then there is the biting risk. 
3) Off-leash times in the park are a privilege, not a right. Unfortunately, there have been numerous attempts to remove this privilege and the foundation is cracking.
3A. Dogs leash rules work until dog owners disobey them. Keep in mind, people take up as much room as they occupy, dogs take up as much room as there is.
 
5) The primary responsibility of owning a dog is ensuring the dog’s health and well-being. This requires exercise, sometimes off-leash.
5A. 5 and 6 should be swapped.
6) A second responsibly is ensuring that you act responsibly as a member of the community. For example, not cleaning up after your dog conveys a great deal about you, your values, and the type of person you are.
We are all a part of this community. There are ways to make this work. We all pay taxes. We all contribute to the social fabric.
I agree.
How often is that park space used otherwise? I don’t recall seeing much going on there prior to dogs using the spot recently. Those comparing it to Central Park – I agree off leash dogs in Central Park can be a problem depending on the area, but this space is so different. This is not a piece of land where people are leisurely walking around daily. It’s quite literally a patch of grass that practically begs to be enjoyed by dogs and conveniently keeps them in one space. I really can’t imagine being so privileged and bored that you would devote time to glaring at happy dogs enjoying themselves on a slab of earth and think “we must end this” but ok, do you.
What do you expect? Citizen’s most reliable pleasure is his pet and all around him homeless chaos, street vandalism, panhandling, covid confusion and told all day every day he ought to feel guilty about all his privilege. Says to himself, “why should I follow these rules?”. My dog is a better person than 75% of the humans in Manhattan I’ve met.
Love it! Bring on the summonses!
It should have never come to this. Dog owners are the worst. Cyclists are a close second.
“Dog owners are the worst.”
Sometimes I catch myself saying something that, upon reflection, I wish I hadn’t.
Then I hope that no one noticed. But you put this in print, on the internet.

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