We agree with 64% of polled city voters, the Central Park Conservancy, the New York Times Editorial Board, the New York City Trade Unions, the Chamber of Commerce, and LANDMARK WEST! We echo the words of those who have so aptly captured the character of the horse-drawn carriages in the Park. Designed by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1858, Central Park is New York City’s first Scenic Landmark, designated in 1974 by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) and is a National Historic Landmark.

Liam Neeson, actor and New York City resident: “…an entire way of life and a historic industry are under threat. We should ask whether this is the New York we want to live in: a sanitized metropolis, where local color and grit are thrown out in favor of sleek futuristic buildings and careening self-driving cars?” -Op-Ed to the NYT “Carriages Belong in Central Park,” April 14, 2014

“Picturesque serpentine carriage drivers, which discouraged the racing of trotters, ran primarily north and south. They crossed unobtrusively over the transverse roads on bridges which were scarcely noticed by the brilliant array of carriages drawn by horses which were a conspicuous feature of the afternoon drive when New Yorkers turned out in force to see and be seen.” – Central Park Designation Report, Landmarks Preservation Commission, April 16, 1974

Below is a letter from a West Sider to a City Councilmember urging them to support our petition and keep the Horse Carriages:

As a lifelong resident and business owner in your district, I am asking that you support Landmark West's petition to SAVE the horse carriages. Here are 4 reasons why (I know you're busy so I'll be as brief as possible):

1) Save the jobs of 300 working men & women: One of my neighbors is pretty high up in the Teamsters union. That union (among others) is really outraged by the proposed ban. He told me that the suggestion that the 300 workers will be "re-trained" is a joke. To do what? What skills do they have that are transferrable to other industries?  These working men and women will more than likely end up working minimum wage jobs in restaurants. Shame on us if we let this happen.

2) I love animals. I have travelled to almost every continent on the planet and I can tell you that the horses in Central Park are treated better than 99.99% of the world's animals.

3) It is lovely and beautiful to see the horses & carriages in Central Park: As a lifelong New Yorker, it is beautiful to see (and hear) the horses and carriages walking through Central Park. They have been part of the Central Park experience for decades. What a shame to get rid of them.

4) What real estate interests are behind this? If it comes out that powerful real estate interests end up benefitting from the sale of the stables on the far West Side, everyone who supported the ban will look like they were "used" by the real estate industry.  Thanks for listening, and please do the right thing.

SIGN THE PETITION! WRITE A LETTER!