Prospect Park no longer goes to the dogs
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/31/41/31_41_el_dogs.html
The Brooklyn Paper
New “No dogs” signs in Prospect Park have unleashed a fury from dog owners who say park officials are arbitrarily enforcing regulations and unfairly targeting their four-legged friends.
The bright blue signs showed up on paths leading to the Long Meadow a few weeks ago, and remind dog walkers that their pets are not allowed on the grass — even on a leash — except during the designated off-leash hours.
The signs threaten a $100 fine.
Park Sloper Seth Kamil spoke for many of his fellow dog owners when he suggested that the signs wrongly target canine aficionados while ignoring a bigger problem than the few dog lovers who actually walk their pets across the Long Meadow.
“The signs are fine, but what angers me is the inconsistent enforcement of the rules and policies,” said Kamil, who owns the Big Onion Walking Tour company. “[Park cops] strictly enforce dog rules, but they turn a blind eye to everything else that takes place in the park.”
“Everything else” includes illegal barbecuing, and high school sports teams and adult leagues whose cleats tear up the grass.
“There is a perception out there that dogs ruin the park. Well, 20 grown men wearing cleats on a muddy Sunday do more damage than any dog ever could,” Kamil said. “Dogs are just an easy target, because, well, nobody likes to get dog poop on his shoe.”
But not every dog owner is in Kamil’s kennel. Community Board 6 Parks Committee chairwoman — and dog owner — Nica Lalli said the new signs “make sense,” given all the complaints she’s received about randomly enforced dog rules in the park.
“The signs let people know that dogs are simply not allowed on the fields,” she said. “It was a shame that the rule was previously unclear, but now that it is a clear rule, we need to follow it. This is a big, multi-use park, with millions of people who come to it. We all need to do our part to keep it fun for everyone.”
Until now, a “grace period” was in effect, said Eugene Patron, a spokesman for the Prospect Park Alliance. But the installation of the “No dogs” signs signals that tickets will be issued.
“The ticketing is just a natural progression, because now people are expected to know what is and is not allowed,” he said.
©2008 The Brooklyn Paper
The Brooklyn Paper
New “No dogs” signs in Prospect Park have unleashed a fury from dog owners who say park officials are arbitrarily enforcing regulations and unfairly targeting their four-legged friends.
The bright blue signs showed up on paths leading to the Long Meadow a few weeks ago, and remind dog walkers that their pets are not allowed on the grass — even on a leash — except during the designated off-leash hours.
The signs threaten a $100 fine.
Park Sloper Seth Kamil spoke for many of his fellow dog owners when he suggested that the signs wrongly target canine aficionados while ignoring a bigger problem than the few dog lovers who actually walk their pets across the Long Meadow.
“The signs are fine, but what angers me is the inconsistent enforcement of the rules and policies,” said Kamil, who owns the Big Onion Walking Tour company. “[Park cops] strictly enforce dog rules, but they turn a blind eye to everything else that takes place in the park.”
“Everything else” includes illegal barbecuing, and high school sports teams and adult leagues whose cleats tear up the grass.
“There is a perception out there that dogs ruin the park. Well, 20 grown men wearing cleats on a muddy Sunday do more damage than any dog ever could,” Kamil said. “Dogs are just an easy target, because, well, nobody likes to get dog poop on his shoe.”
But not every dog owner is in Kamil’s kennel. Community Board 6 Parks Committee chairwoman — and dog owner — Nica Lalli said the new signs “make sense,” given all the complaints she’s received about randomly enforced dog rules in the park.
“The signs let people know that dogs are simply not allowed on the fields,” she said. “It was a shame that the rule was previously unclear, but now that it is a clear rule, we need to follow it. This is a big, multi-use park, with millions of people who come to it. We all need to do our part to keep it fun for everyone.”
Until now, a “grace period” was in effect, said Eugene Patron, a spokesman for the Prospect Park Alliance. But the installation of the “No dogs” signs signals that tickets will be issued.
“The ticketing is just a natural progression, because now people are expected to know what is and is not allowed,” he said.
©2008 The Brooklyn Paper
Comments
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Subject: Re: Prospect Park no longer goes to the dogs
YankeeFan wrote: “Dogs are just an easy target, because, well, nobody likes to get dog poop on his shoe.”
Give this guy a genius grant. Case closed. -
Dammit. Walking my chubby pooch across the park is one of my favorite things about living here. Who can I vote against on November 4th in retribution?
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I heard from a neighbor the cops gave out a lot of tickets at the dog run tonight.
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the fields are one thing, but the grass? this is stupid.
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The only signs I've seen say that dogs are not allowed on the ballfields at all, but only on the paths around the ballfields (between 9th and 15th streets). Haven't seen any other signs on any other part of the long meadow . ..
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A bunch of us were talking about this article and we think that the person who wrote it misinterpreted the signs. The sign near the ballfield is very specific about being off the field/lawn. The ones near the longmeadow and nethermead don't indicate that you can't be on the lawn. We think she read it as ALL the lawns after 9am. If she didn't misinterpret then the signs are wrong and the "law" is bullshit. they should be worrying about the picnickers who light fires under the trees and on the lawn and then leave their crap everywhere..not the dogs playing or walking across the lawn on a leash. There's always one or two that make it hard for the rest of us but to enforce a bogus law that you can't step on the grass is frankly just BS. We need clarification from the top.
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its all about enforcement ...if they enforce it (which they probably will only in summer and on holidays), it will be an inconvienence.
i'm betting it will be a law they dust off when they see the big aggressive dog off leash. The small mutts likely can play off lease without being bothered.
Selective enforcement... -
I believe the sign near the ballfields specifically says "ballfields," -- in my mind, that distinguishes it from the long meadow and only applies to the ballfields. Where are the signs along the long meadow? Walked the dog back through there on Saturday and didn't see any . . .
I have a dog, and I'm perfectly fine keeping to the meadow and the nethermead. -
bebevonbernstein wrote:
same here...
I have a dog, and I'm perfectly fine keeping to the meadow and the nethermead. -
More stellar reporting by the Brooklyn Paper. Why didn't they just call the parks department and double-check. It takes 5 minutes. Seriously.
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