Makeshift dog run in Sunset Park gets padlocked again
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Sunset Park dog owners are up in arms after the Parks Department padlocked a makeshift dog run, leaving many scrambling to find a safe space for their furry friends.
For years, dog owners have been using a fenced-in area of the park for off-leash socialization and training, particularly important for Jake, a five-month-old Golden Retriever being trained as a service animal by his owner Jason Alicea.
“The park is actually really important to us, we come here a lot to hang out with and socialize with other dogs and do recall training,” said Alicea.
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This effectively teaches Jake recall – coming back to his owner when called – in a safe space before attempting it in open areas. The padlocked gate has left Alicea feeling frustrated and with limited options. “There aren’t a lot of places in this neighborhood,” Alicea explained. “This kind of happened because you know, like the people needed a space and we kind of just made one.”
But this isn’t the first time the area has been locked up. This latest closure, which residents say happened last month, has reignited calls for a designated off-leash area, a cause they’ve been formally advocating for since 2021.
The Parks Department has designated off-leash hours, but the fenced area on 41st Street and 6th Avenue at the park’s north end is not for off-leash use and was closed to protect the grass from erosion.
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The lack of designated off-leash areas has forced dog owners to improvise, using spaces like soccer fields and basketball courts, which can be unsafe for dogs.
“When people need a space, they’ll find one,” said Alicea. “It makes it unsafe for the patrons and it makes it unsafe for our dogs.”
The Parks Department offered a statement: “We encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of our parks for fun, play, and relaxation – and that includes our four-legged friends. At Sunset Park, dog owners and their canine companions can head to the lawn at the center of the park for off-leash hours.”
Other residents are calling on the Parks Department for a permanent solution. “I feel like they should have a dog park because it’s a big dog community,” said one resident.
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With the makeshift dog area shut down, dog owners, including those training future service animals, are left hoping for a designated off-leash area that caters to the needs of both pups and people. “What are they doing to help facilitate, you know, a better space for our dogs to play and exercise safely?” questioned Alicea.
Our attempts to reach the Parks Department regarding why the fenced-in area reopened and reclosed have so far been unsuccessful.
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