Say Irving Sq. Not Appropriate
Irving Square Park in Bushwick will not be getting a dog run anytime soon, a Parks Department representative told Brooklyn Community Board 4 at its monthly meeting last Wednesday, Apr. 16, at the Hope Gardens Senior Center.
Marty Maher, chief of staff for Brooklyn parks came to the meeting to deliver the news that upon analysis of the park by officials, Irving Square was not an appropriate location for a canine park.
“I was asked to talk about dog runs and Irving Square Park, he said. He advised that “People that want dog runs need four things,” to successfully get one and make sure it’s run properly.
According Maher, reasons the park will not get a dog run are limited space and the presence of too many trees.
“When we redesign parks, we are very sensitive to trees, Maher said. He added, “Lots of trees are bad for dog runs locations. When we look at a park (for a dog run), we want an area free of trees or with as few trees as possible.”
He explained that the parks department used to simply “just put down some wood chips and a chicken wire fence,” but “we’ve had some experience with this now,” Maher said.
Though four things are necessary, location can be a sufficient factor in whether or not an area is deemed appropriate for a dog run. Irving Square Park was determined to not be an ideal location, according to Maher.
“At Irving Square, we looked around and really didn’t find an appropriate spot,” he said. “Not every park is going to have an appropriate spot for a dog run,” he added.
The first thing needed Maher said is an organized group to care for the park, maintain cleanliness and enforce the rules.
The second factor, according to Maher is overwhelming community support and the use of that backing to raise the necessary funding.
It “costs $450,000 to $600,000, depending on the location and the place,” to construct a dog run, Maher said.
He went on to describe the process as beginning with a “dig down to take out top layer of soil so it can drain out,” Maher said.
The Parks Department then will put on a finish level-surface, install a water source, a fence separating big dogs from little ones, and a dog vestibule.
“The science of dog runs has really developed over the years,” Maher said.
Some at the meeting questioned Maher about people in the community taking their small dogs to playgrounds, putting them on the slides and swings.
“Dogs are not allowed in playgrounds,” Maher said.
“They don’t belong in playgrounds period,” he said and noted that with only 30 park enforcement police officers for 877 parks in Brooklyn, communities need to take a part in maintaining parks.
“If you observe something, call the police,” Maher said.
Transportation issues
Kicy Motley, Brooklyn borough director for community affairs for the Mayor’s office and Miller Nuttle, director of campaigns for Transportation Alternatives (TA) both came to the meeting to discuss Vision Zero and traffic safety in Bushwick.
Motley announced two pedestrian safety workshops are coming to the borough. The first is tonight, at Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights, and another is scheduled for Apr. 29 at Brooklyn College. Both workshops are slated to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Nuttle came to the meeting seeking the community board’s support for a safer streets forum for Bushwick. Miller brought a letter outlining the safety issues in the neighborhood, which urged the board support the forum coming to the neighborhood and distributed fliers in English and Spanish.
The letter from Transportation Alternatives was signed and supported by local officials and many area businesses.
“The residential population of this neighborhood has skyrocketed in recent decades, but improvements in safer streets have not kept pace. This has resulted in dozens of serious crashes and fatalities over the past few years alone,” the letter read.
According to Nuttle the forums are organized around the city to get feedback from local communities on where people feel safe, or unsafe on the streets.
Following the environmental and transportation committee support of the TA forums coming to Bushwick, the board voted to recommend the decision and asked that a forum be organized.
Community board elections
A nominating committee was formed and met Apr. 10 to gather names and nominations for the positions to run for one year.
Only Board 4 members were allowed to vote on the nominating list. No changes were made to the board’s leadership, save for Gladys Puggla becoming the new treasurer by edging out Avellar Hansley, 18-11.
The only two positions that went to a vote were treasurer, and financial secretary, as Eliseo Ruiz was reelected 18-11, beating out Raul Rubio.
Chairperson Julie Dent was reappointed, as were Martha Brown, Victoria Fernandez, Cirilo Nunez, Virgie Jones and Odolph Wright as first vice chair, second vice chair, recording secretary corresponding secretary and parliamentarian, respectively.
Twenty-nine board members were present to vote in the election.
Community Board 4 generally holds regular monthly meetings every 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Hope Gardens Multi-Service Center, located at 195 Linden Street. Meetings begin at 6:00 p.m.
