East Elmhurst Dogs Lose Access to Helen Marshall Park's Ballfield
The Issue
In East Elmhurst, dog owners are facing a growing problem: there is no designated dog park in our community — and now, there is no usable space left for dogs at all.
Helen Marshall Park (also known as PS-127) has historically been a shared neighborhood space where residents, including responsible dog owners, have gathered and coexisted. However, recent enforcement by the NYC Parks Department has changed that reality.
Parks Enforcement is now actively preventing dogs from using:
The ball field
The play areas
The surrounding open spaces
While dogs are technically allowed to enter the park, they are not allowed to use any part of it in a meaningful way — effectively eliminating access altogether.
We understand and respect the importance of maintaining safe spaces for children and organized activities. However, the current approach goes beyond balance — it results in complete exclusion, even during times when areas like the ball field are sitting empty and unused.
This is especially concerning because East Elmhurst does not have a designated dog park. For many residents, this means there is now no local space at all where dogs can be safely exercised.
Dog owners are part of this community. We:
Pay taxes that support our public parks
Walk our dogs responsibly
Clean up after them
Contribute to a safe and respectful neighborhood
We are not asking for unrestricted access. We are asking for a reasonable, community-based solution.
Specifically, we are advocating for one of the following:
The creation of a designated dog run or dog-friendly area within Helen Marshall Park, or
The identification and use of an underutilized Parks Department space within East Elmhurst as a dog-friendly area
This petition is not about conflict — it is about inclusion, fairness, and practical solutions that reflect the needs of the entire community.
We are seeking community support to demonstrate that this is a real and important need — and to encourage NYC Parks to work with residents to create a space where both people and pets can coexist safely and respectfully.
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The Issue
In East Elmhurst, dog owners are facing a growing problem: there is no designated dog park in our community — and now, there is no usable space left for dogs at all.
Helen Marshall Park (also known as PS-127) has historically been a shared neighborhood space where residents, including responsible dog owners, have gathered and coexisted. However, recent enforcement by the NYC Parks Department has changed that reality.
Parks Enforcement is now actively preventing dogs from using:
The ball field
The play areas
The surrounding open spaces
While dogs are technically allowed to enter the park, they are not allowed to use any part of it in a meaningful way — effectively eliminating access altogether.
We understand and respect the importance of maintaining safe spaces for children and organized activities. However, the current approach goes beyond balance — it results in complete exclusion, even during times when areas like the ball field are sitting empty and unused.
This is especially concerning because East Elmhurst does not have a designated dog park. For many residents, this means there is now no local space at all where dogs can be safely exercised.
Dog owners are part of this community. We:
Pay taxes that support our public parks
Walk our dogs responsibly
Clean up after them
Contribute to a safe and respectful neighborhood
We are not asking for unrestricted access. We are asking for a reasonable, community-based solution.
Specifically, we are advocating for one of the following:
The creation of a designated dog run or dog-friendly area within Helen Marshall Park, or
The identification and use of an underutilized Parks Department space within East Elmhurst as a dog-friendly area
This petition is not about conflict — it is about inclusion, fairness, and practical solutions that reflect the needs of the entire community.
We are seeking community support to demonstrate that this is a real and important need — and to encourage NYC Parks to work with residents to create a space where both people and pets can coexist safely and respectfully.
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Petition created on April 15, 2026