Create an Off Leash Dog Run in Central Park South

Dogs living near south Central Park need a safe and legal place to exercise during daytime hours. Currently, dogs are only allowed off leash in some areas of the park from 6 am until 9 am and 9 pm until 1 am. While it is excellent that the park rules accommodate some off leash time to reflect the understanding that a dog can only get appropriate exercise off leash it is not practical for many dog owners to exercise their dogs during these very early and late times. It is true that there are dog runs in the city, however there is not a single dog run in all of central park.

Public data estimates roughly 565,000 people live in zip codes that directly border central park. This is a sizeable group without facilities that have become fairly common place and standard throughout most of the city – Central Park being the notable exception.

In particular, Central Park south of The Lake, or roughly 72nd street, has a large dog community that gathers in several areas of the park to allow human and canine socialization and exercise. Sometimes, due to lack of appropriate facilities dog owners let their canine friends off leash during the normal daytime hours of 9 am to 9pm. This is always done with control of the dog and lets the dogs really stretch their legs and socialize in the manner they are accustomed too. However, this behavior makes rule breakers out of otherwise exemplary citizens and creates unnecessary feelings of shame when park employees enforce the rules. Further, park employees often concede that they wish the dogs had a place to be off leash as well, but that they simply have to do their job and enforce the rules. Then, leashes are put on and dogs continue to play causing leashes to tangle dogs and owners alike all so that everyone can follow the rules to the detriment of the dogs, park patrons, and park employees.

The signers of this petition request that an off leash dog run is crated in central park south of The Lake. Please, help our community allow our four legged companions the opportunity to exercise and socialize appropriately in the safest manner possible.

Sincerely,

Your Central Park Community