Hello friend and neighbors,

We are Jackie's Home Run, a group of 50+ dog owners and advocates requesting your signature to support a dog run and off leash hours in Harlem's historic Jackie Robinson Park.  These proposed resources address several needs in our community.  

Increased Population of Dogs & Dog Owners

The number of households with dogs in this section of Hamilton Heights has tripled.  It is difficult to socialize them with other dogs because the nearest dog run is over a mile away, too far a walk for some people and dogs. No designated space for dogs leads to dog waste on sidewalks and in street tree planters because unfortunately not everyone picks up after their pet.   A centrally located dog run will create a convenient place for owners to relieve their pets, as well as socialize them.

Community Building & Stewardship

Jackie Robinson Park has been a welcome resource for many residents, but there is not an official area for dog owners to allow their pets to feel comfortable and run freely.  Studies have shown that dog run participants become overall stewards of their local parks.  Branching out into social activities and volunteering for cleanup crews that support overall park functions. Off leash hours help people build a routine and sense of community.  Dogs bring comfort to their humans who might tend to isolate and serve as an ice breaker for strangers to interact and build stronger communities.

Proposed Location

We have several location options in the park, but the top choice is the Northern section of Jackie Robinson Park at 155th between Bradhurst and Edgecombe. This area of the park was formerly a homeless encampment. Mayor Eric Adams has cleaned out the Encampment to drive the homeless population into more traditional shelter options.

We are gathering support to repurpose this northernmost area of our community to use as a dog run.  Here are some great reasons the location is ideal for a dog run:

• The space is currently underused, and an active dog run would deter another encampment from taking hold or any other activity that is not sanctioned.
• There are lots of dogs in the neighborhood that could benefit from exercise and socialization.
• There are no other dog runs nearby.
• It is already a contained area that would minimize noise complaints.

Leadership Support

Currently, we have the support of Kristin Richardson Jordan, Council Member of District 9 and the the Jackie Robinson Conservancy.  We are collecting signatures to show support for the idea to Community Board 10, other elected officials and the NewYork City Parks Department.

This change.org petition is to raise awareness, and anyone can sign. However, the community board requires pen and ink signatures from Harlem residents. If you live in Harlem, you can sign the official hard copy petition to lend your formal support. Email dodger@jackieshomerun.com or text 929-399-9059 to meet an organizer and sign the petition. 

Thank you for your support!