The dog walk area of Hempstead Lake Park should be made into a designated, fenced-in, dog run and only uses compatible with the safe exercising of dogs should be permitted in this area of the 775 acre Hempstead Lake Park, Rockville Centre, New York.  By signing this petition, I am casting my vote in support of a designated, fenced dog run area of sufficient size and capacity to allow for the safe and effective exercise of dogs at Hempstead Lake Park.

I believe that dogs owners and their pets should have the same rights to open space as allocated to other park users.  I also believe that dogs that are given the opportunity for off-leash exercise are better trained and socialized and are therefore less likely to be a danger or hazard to others.

My signature to this petition is my vote and request that the New York State Parks Department designate the present on-leash dog walk area of Hempstead Lake Park, an official off-leash dog run area, thus allowing the area to be fenced in for this purpose. Furthermore, no uses should be permitted ever again in this area that are not compatible with the safe exercising of dogs.