In order to give dogs a place to run free without the restriction of a leash, the New York City Parks Department has created seven “dog runs” in parks throughout Queens.
According to Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, the dog runs were created about 10 years ago because the community wanted them. Lewandowski said that with “self-patrolling” and “self-regulation” on the part of dog owners, there have been fewer complaints about unleashed dogs and lack of clean-up in those parks.
Not only do they give man’s best friend a chance to roam without a leash, but Lewandowski said that it also gives members of the community a chance to meet their neighbors.
Dogs who visit the run areas must be licensed and free of parasites. Owners are responsible for clean-up and are expected to take the proper precautions to ensure there are no unnecessary dog fights.
The dog runs located in Queens are:
In the future, it is possible that the borough may see more dog runs added in local parks.
“We’re certainly open to dialogue with dog associates and community associations that are interested in [creating new dog runs],” Lewandowski said.
For more information on the New York City Parks Department and its dog runs, visit www.nycgovparks.org.
