Expand The Washington Square Park Dog Run!

                                

  I speak on behalf of the tax paying voters, who own dogs and village residents who don't own dogs. 
We ask the City of NY, the parks department, and all those involved with the restoration/renovation of Washington Square Park, to seriously consider our proposition of increasing the new dog run by 1/3 during this park%u2019s massive and expensive redesign and renovation. The new run is going to be magnificent, but the issue of its size and the need for expansion has been grossly over looked. We need to build a run that serves the needs of what the future brings, more people and more dogs. The park%u2019s complete oversight to expand the dog run by even the slightest bit during this renovation only sets us up for a future problems. Not expanding while redesigning the run is a total waste of time, resources and money. There are no off leash dog areas below 57th and the only other large dog run south of 57th  is Thompson Square Park. The Washington Square Park Dog Run needs to be larger!   Consider this: A dog run is the only part of the park... used 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This proposed expansion of the dog run is not just for dogs, it's for the owners of the dogs too. The dog run is our recreation space because we have dogs. 
 As of today, the new run only matches the current run at about 7100 square feet --- a  mere  1.7% of the entire park. It is our wish to increase the size by at least a third  or 2382 square feet bringing the run to 2% of the entire park.  While most of the park sits empty for 1/2 the year, the dog run is used the entire year. The dog run is the most used space in the park by people and their dogs.  Failing to consider an expansion of the DOG RUN NOW during this massive renovation would be a HUGE oversight on all of our parts. Refusal to anticipate additional space for residents AND their dogs would be a travesty as our population grows.  Once this dog run is complete,  we are stuck with it for the next 30 years - living with the decisions we make today. This expansion is crucial to the future of the dog run and the future of our community. 

My name is Stephanie Bargas resident of the village for over 13 years, tax payer, voter and Washington square park dog run goer

On a side note, dog owners and dogs keep the neighborhood safe, we are a constant presence in the park with out us, after 6:30pm there are only drug dealers drug addicts. It is really something to think about.

We are the eyes and ears of the park as well, where people with children are too wrapped up with their kids, we are able to look around, stop and see things that other people might not.

Most of our dogs are rescues and people that rescue dogs are an important part of today society.

Finally, on the rare occasion that we run our dogs on the mounds or off leash late at night, we often get tickets. It is really sad that the smell of pot resonates the air, drug dealers are out in the open and smack is being used in the bathrooms and we are the ones getting ticketed%u2026 the ones that actually keep the neighborhood safer! That really needs to stop.

 

Thank you so much!

Stephanie Bargas