By signing this petition, you agree that our community requests capital support to install turf and improve facilities and for ongoing maintenance of the McCarren Park Dog Run. We seek to complete this project sustainably and with proper drainage in mind. 

As many Greenpoint and Williamsburg dog owners and residents know, multiple leptospirosis cases are linked to the McCarren Park Dog Run. 

Firstly, please, vaccinate your dogs for Leptospirosis. Ask your vet if your dog received the lepto vaccine. Lack of vaccination is just one factor contributing to this issue; however, a more significant matter is at play. McCarren Park Dog Run is particularly unsanitary; rats run rampant in NYC, and Leptospirosis stems from rat urine. Rats are attracted to water sources, and due to poor drainage and design, the Dog Run often looks more like a Dog Pond. Additionally, the dog run lacks a foundation or concrete perimeter; as a result, rats burrow in the soil, leading the dog run to experience contamination from the inside-out. 

Essentially, the muddy puddles that form in the dog run are prime still-water breeding grounds for disease-causing bacteria. McCarren Park Dog Run is not up to par with the rest of the well-maintained, modern dog runs throughout NYC; installing turf (artificial grass) is the best option and ideal solution. Even easy-to-sanitize cement would be more suitable for dog runs than raw dirt, and turf is a cost-effective solution. Natural grass, unfortunately, would not last long as dogs quickly trample grass; natural grass is sensitive and cannot withstand the amount of use this dog run will receive. 

Looking to the Dog Run in Domino Park or Kensington Dog Run in Prospect Park, turf ensures proper drainage of liquids, so even in rainy conditions, our dog's paws stay mud-free and clean. McCarren Park tennis courts are beautiful; why shouldn't the dog run be maintained and treated with the same attention and care? The turf on the soccer field (which never experiences puddles), mere steps away from the dog run, is perfect for dogs to fetch and run around. You may be thinking- why not pebbles, like McGolrick Park Dog Run? Gravel can get very hot in the summer, and they need to be replaced more frequently than turf since they are unsecured, loose stones. Dogs dig up stones quickly, and gravel will not prevent rats from burrowing and making a home in the dog run. Turf lasts longer than rocks, and even under direct sunlight, they won't be too hot for your dog to step on since the texture emulates grass. Gravel and wood-chips are just stop-gap fixes, not long-term solutions. Dig-proof & rat-proof turf + a secured perimeter + optimization for drainage will provide us with a long-term solution to this pervasive problem. 

We hope you will take the time to look into this critical issue and join us in our mission to create a beautiful, safe, sustainable, and family-friendly dog run. We are also currently crowdfunding and hope to raise enough money to achieve this as a community if necessary!