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What’s up with the Von King Park Dog Run?
By The Changeling | January 30, 2008
A reader who happens to be a dog owner recently emailed me to ask about the dog run in Von King Park. Just in case you haven’t noticed it, the dog run is currently just a regular part of the park. It’s located by Greene Avenue and there is a sign that indicates that the area is designated as a dog run, but this open area is not fenced off and it is not physically different from any other part of the park. The dog owner really wanted a place in the neighborhood for their dog to run, but they didn’t feel comfortable letting the dog off leash in such an area.
I’m sure that there are other dog owners in the neighborhood who are feeling the same way. Dogs need a place in our neighborhood where they can exercise and socialize with other dogs. They deserve to have their own space in the park, right?
Does anyone have any information about this dog run? Any other dog owners out there having similar concerns? Would anyone be interested in getting involved with the NYC Parks Department to see if the dog run area can be fenced off from the rest of the park? The first step is to call the Parks Department headquarters to find out the name and number of the park’s manager. I contacted the them and they told me that the manager is Mike Super and his number is 718.965.6567. Next steps?
So You Want to Build a Dog Run! [NYC Parks]
January 30th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
My husband I bring our dog to Von King nearly every morning. What we’ve heard from the other dog owners there is that a fenced off area is going to be built on the Greene Avenue side of the park, right where you’re describing - it’s just not up yet. As of this morning, it looks like there’s some fencing there waiting to be installed. Hopefully they’ll do it soon (there was a similar plan we heard about earlier in the fall for the Marcy Ave side of the park that never happened).
January 30th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
this is good to know. i have a dog and nowhere to take him for a run in the area. and believe me, he needs it.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Call the community board regarding this matter. This issue was voted on last summer at a community board meeting.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:23 pm
At the risk of sounding down on Von King or ungrateful about a potential dog run…
…that’s a poorly placed dog run. It feels really bunchy, it stops being useful if the ballfield it abuts is actively being used, and it’s really close to the busiest streets. There are like eight other better locations in that park.
What am I missing? What was the decision-making process here?
January 31st, 2008 at 9:57 pm
believe it or not the board spent about an hour on this topic. A Dog trainer proposed the idea. The board argued forever about the legal stance on a dog running without a leash in acity park.
In the end it was decided that would be the space alloted. Sound silly but they actually voted on this.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Oh, I don’t doubt everyone voted. I guess I’m just wondering why here and not somewhere else in the park that’s not in the way of the ball field?
It just seems like a conflict for later.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Just weighing in because I think there’s some confusion because of the photo… The picture seems to be of the old location - on the Marcy Ave side of the park next to the ball field. The powers that be have moved it to the Greene Ave side, and we’ve been told to bring our dogs there from now on.
The new location has its issues too (it’s kind of small and narrow - most of the dog owners preferred the Marcy side because there was more room for the dogs to run), but that’s where they seem to be setting things up now…
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I always see people with dogs on the Marcy/Greene side. I was surprised that they would move it up to Lafyette/Marcy (though I see people with dog there too).
Greene and Marcy don’t have bus routes, so I would think it would be safer in terms of traffic.
February 9th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Just wanted to add some comments- Our LL groups has used the park at Von King for the past 6 years. We do have a concern about dogs being off the leash in the park (as we see a lot of) especially this year, as our league has grown in size and games must begin earlier: 9:am.
Parents voiced their concern about the safety of their kids. We have never had a problem in the park before (knock on wood) and we hopefully never will.
It is our understanding that the proposed dog walk area will be closer to Green /Tompkins. Not behind the baseball field. The best way to visualize it would be to walk to the open park behind the cultural center—dead center of the open space- and look towards the chess / bench area in front of you. This is where the proposed site is to be set up.
Thanks!
February 10th, 2008 at 7:47 am
The dog run should be as far away from the field where the children are to go play as not to have the dogs alarmed and cause a problem that is not needed
March 27th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Just went to the dog run today. It’s great! The people are so friendly and there are actually two spaces for dogs. This is so nice for the dogs. Is there a dog group that is helping to maintain the space?
April 30th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I take my dog here almost every day. As someone who’s lived near the park for almost five years, I have definitely notice that having a dog run actually decreases how often dogs are off-leash in other (unfenced) parts of the park. This makes using the park a lot safer for kids and dogs. I am also wondering about dog run maintenance and if people are getting together to work on it.