You didn’t think the problem of “dog feces” in the toddler area at Carroll Park we posted about yesterday was going to just go away? Nah. This is the kind of, uh, shit, that draws attention. And that it did. This email from Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association:
The response to the dog v toddler issue has been terrific- thanks for all the suggestions! In case you didn’t get to read all of them, I have made a short list of the recommendations and actions taken:….
1. Paul Nelson (Joan Millman’s COS) has alerted the Parks Dept. There will be new signs posted all thru the park.
2. Kathleen Henderson (CP Park Activity Director) recommends alerting the on site Park staff, telling the police and calling 311 each time there is a problem.
As this is a particularly irritating quality of life issue, I am happy for the support of Joan’s office, Parks and the 76th. (Yes, the Park is locked every night, although I don’t know how early it is opened in the mornings.)
I don’t have a dog, and personally find the idea of toddlers crawling around, putting things in their mouth, in an area where dog poop has been scooped off the ground rather revolting. That said, I wonder if there’s a dog run in the neighborhood. Perhaps in addition to all the other excellent suggestions and steps, someone can post a sign with the address of the nearest dog run so dog owners know they have an open space alternative to the playgrounds.
While I find it highly unlikely that the city would build and maintain a new dog run in this economy, there’s no harm in asking. If there isn’t a convenient dog run in the neighborhood, perhaps parent-dog owners can suggest its creation. Having grown up with two big dogs, a German Sheppard and an Alaskan Malamute, I feel for city dog owners whose pets needs a place to play. But I am actually shocked that anyone ever thought the toddler playground was an appropriate location for doggy play dates.
We will provide other upates on the “feces” issue as warranted.
4 responses so far ↓
1 olee // Feb 5, 2009 at 10:38 am
There’s a dog run nearby in DiMattina Park on Henry bet Woodhull and Rapelye. It’s a little tricky to find the entrance (sort of next to the playground walkway), but the park is reasonably big.
2 Gari N. Corp // Feb 5, 2009 at 11:40 am
There’s also that huge one down towards the Brooklyn bridge on the hill by columbia heights. But we’re talking about people who let their dogs crap where children play. I think we’re talking about stick rather than carrot candidates.
3 lance // Feb 5, 2009 at 4:24 pm
A few years ago I had a serial non-curber use my sidewalk to relieve his dog numerous times (the doggy dookey was always the same). But instead of whining into my keyboard, I took swift and definitive action. Sure, it was a pain in the neck waking up pre-dawn and holding a sidewalk vigil from my second story window, but sure enough, after a few days I was able to snap a photo of said indiscretion and quietly follow the scofflaw back to his gorgeous (single-family) brownstone. While it took a tremendous amount of self control not to confront the gentleman right there and then, I had a plan and stuck to it. Early the next morning when the gentleman returned from his morning walkies, he found two things at his abode that he had not expected: his doorknob was covered with human feces (don’t worry, I wore gloves…) and slipped under his door was the aforementioned photo with the words “Curb your dog – We’re onto you” in cut and paste ransom note style letters on the back. Needless to say, I haven’t seen hi or his dog’s feces since…
4 Anonymous // Feb 6, 2009 at 8:46 am
And posting a big fat sign on the park along with a ream of plastic bags is not gonna help? Or the park monitor could LOCK the damn thing. People will find a way in but it might be harder with a larger animal. And olee, that Raplyey dog run is a filthy dusty pit and dangerous.