Proposed location of dog run
Jan. 29, 2014 By Christian Murray
Long Island City residents will get their chance next week to speak to New York State Parks department officials about the proposed dog run near 5th Street as well as a plethora of issues pertaining to Gantry Plaza State Park.
Residents are invited to attend a public meeting next Wednesday (see details below) that will provide a forum for the community to express their views on how the park and other state property should be used.
Karen Phillips, the director of the New York City region of New York State Parks, is expected to be in attendance to update the neighborhood about any new developments at Gantry Plaza State Park as well as other areas it oversees.
The event, which is being held by Friends of Gantry Neighborhood Parks (a non-profit group dedicated to the maintenance of local parks), is being moderated by Community Board 2 Chairman Joe Conley.
Conley expects topics such as the proposed dog run at 5th Street near 46th Road (between Queens West Sports Field and the school building) to be discussed.
This proposal has been controversial—despite the large number of dog owners in the area.
While there are many advocates for it, there are some who argue it is too close to the school.
Conley anticipates that attendees will want to discuss the hours the park is open (through 10 pm) and how best to police it.
Other issues such as the maintenance of services—such as the water fountains—as well as looking after plant life are also expected to be raised.
Representatives of local elected officials will also be in attendance.
Details:
Date/Time: Wednesday, February 5, 2014
6:30 PM
Place: PS/IS78Q
Location: 46-08 Fifth Street
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16 Comments
@respect each other
– “both can win” – interesting so you equate dogs on the same level as kids? No one is denying dog runs in general just a dog run right next to the school.
“syosset” – urban areas are primarily for people, suburbs and country is more suitable for animals, so please rethink who should move.
Alas, not fantasy, which can be verified on the LIC Parent FB group if you’re so inclined. I certainly wish it wasn’t true.
In the age old battle of children vs. dogs, why can’t both win? There are plenty of public spaces for people, and very few for the many, many dogs in the area. Give the pups a little room, shame the irresponsible owners, and if you don’t like it, move to the suburbs. Queens is not your yuppie playground. I hear Syosset is lovely.
@Meghan – the only reason it’s a wasteland is because there’s been construction near that area until a month or so ago (there was a huge trailer there that was just removed), so no one’s been using for anything other than letting their dogs defecate and run around.
I’ve also lived in this area for years, and I’ve never witnessed a parent allowing their kid to defecate on the ground. Your post was almost fine without that bit of fantasy resentment.
The Department of Education is not going to take that piece of land and create a playground for the school (they already have one BTW). Either convert it (back) to it’s originally intended use as a picnic area and ticket dog owners who don’t curb their dogs or convert it to a dog run. The dog run idea is a perfectly fine one too, although I’m not a dog owner. I’d prefer more than anything that it cease being a brown wasteland full of dog shit (could be human as some of the parents in the neighborhood seem to think that’s perfectly acceptable too) and be re-purposed for something actually useful to the neighborhood. Overall, I like the idea of a picnic area since there will, hopefully, be increasing crowds enjoying food all summer at LIC Flea who need a place to sit and enjoy LIC.
I’d like to point out that I see many pretentious insane LIC humans who wrap their children in the poop bag and then periodically dispose of and replace the bag, aka diaper. This way if they get distracted by a phone call, or a text, or a bird flying above, or just their own brilliant thoughts, they don’t have to, when returning their attention to their child, check to see if he or she has left feces in public space, and then go to the bother of seeking out a bag and scooping it up. Perhaps dog companions could provide there canines with wearable poop bags, aka diapers. Just a thought. I myself, would not object.
@LICer-er – self-reflect, you pointed out it was perhaps unreasonable to call a debate “insane”, then you go on to denigrate “all these rich pretentious people”. Hmmm… perhaps we’re all just a little bit crazy, eh?
I said that it is insane that everything is covered in pee and poop and I stand by that word choice 100%. Big words to express a big problem.
I have kids as well. And a dog. And I clean up after my dog. So do most of the dog owners in the neighborhood. But because there are a couple dummies who don’t…all dog owners are messy people apparently. I’m so sick of these parents who think they are better than all the rest. I have seen parents let their kids take poops in choo-choo park. That doesn’t mean I think all parents are filthy.
And by the way LICer…talking about an anonymous blog: I’m sure LICer is not your birth name either. You are the one who overreacted by calling it “insane”. Insane are lot of things in this world. A proposed dog run I would consider debatable. But not “insane”. Big words….
It’s all these rich pretentious people who move in our neighborhood. So annoying…
that green space would make an excellent recess area for the hundreds of kids who will attend PS 78, it would make our school STAND OUT.
But, oh well, I guess it will go to the dogs.
“Agreed with the weirdo above. Instead of a dog run we should build the 17th playground in the neighborhood with none working sprinklers but a life guard on staff 12 hours a day. LET DO THIS PEOPLE!”
Why the snarky comment? Because I mentioned kids? I didn’t say build a playground. I suggested not having another area over-run with dog feces so that actual people can enjoy it. Way to go LIC-er!! Sarcastic, and rude comments on an anonymous blog! You win!!!!
One of the reasons that there is poop all along 5th Street is because the lawn between PS78 and the sport field has become a de facto dog run. Therefore, the dog traffic along 5th Street is higher than other side walks. I am not sure how converting part of that lawn into a dog run is going to help the poop issue. If you look at one of the pictures posted on the prior post some dog owner didn’t even have the decency to clean up after their dog in the 4545 Center dog run. I don’t see how it will be any different with the new dog run.
The picture in this post is actually misleading.
Most times of the day there are multiple dogs off-leash and the ground is currently black and yellow and smelly.
There’s a small dog run just 1 block up from the current area in question. Please use that one.
Agreed with the weirdo above. Instead of a dog run we should build the 17th playground in the neighborhood with none working sprinklers but a life guard on staff 12 hours a day. LET DO THIS PEOPLE!
Why do we need two dog runs at Gantry State Park? There is the new one at Hunters Point South and another one one Vernon Blvd. Can’t we have a park with benches that aren’t surround by poop so people can enjoy a nice meal outdoors? Lord knows we can’t sit anywhere, our kids can’t touch anything – everything is covered in pee and poop. This is insane.