Aug 7, 2017 3 min read Animals

Locals Complain About Conditions At Dyker Beach Dog Run

A dog owner stands with his dog in the high grass of the dog park (Paul Stremple/BKLYNER)

Walking past the Dyker Beach Dog Run, one could easily assume it’s been abandoned by the city. The grass is overgrown, the plastic bag dispensers are empty, and standing water pools around a faucet. And then there’s the smell.

The city spent more than $600,000 to renovate the park in 2014. Now, maintenance of the park is falling short, says local resident Jimmy Gheida.

The biggest concern from dog-owners is the uncut grass, which conceals holes in the ground where the dogs play. Gheida’s doberman recently fell in one of the holes, breaking its foot, a medical expense that ran to $600.

The long grass also makes it hard for owners to track down and clean up dog waste. While the regulars in the park try to ensure everyone watches their dog and is quick to clean up, it doesn’t always work. The smell of feces is noticeable as one approaches the park on 86th St and at the nearby homes on 10th Ave.

A park patron searches for dog waste in the tall grass (Paul Stremple/BKLYNER)

Additionally, a spigot installed to provide water for the dogs isn’t draining properly, leaving a large puddle of standing water. Combined with the long grass, it makes the park a breeding ground for mosquitos, and dog owners are concerned about heartworm—a parasitic worm spread to dogs through the bites of mosquitos.

Standing water from a spigot provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes (Paul Stremple/BKLYNER)

A committed group of regulars have been trying desperately to get the park better maintained. Frank Sfara, who brings his English setter to the park, has used the 311 app to lodge complaints about the conditions. The Parks Department responded to his complaint, claiming the grass had been cut—but it’s easy to see it hasn’t.

Sunday, August 6, marked four weeks since the grass has been cut, according to Gheida. “In the winter, you can get away with it,” he says, “but with the rain we’ve been getting, it should be cut every two weeks at the very least.”

Frank Sfara’s work requests on the 311 app claim to have been responded to—but the work remains undone (Paul Stremple/BKLYNER)

Another regular, Pete McGuire, called 311, but was told that Parks Department doesn’t have the manpower to mow the grass. “I even thought about buying a mower myself—but where would I store it?” he said.

The Dyker Beach Dog Run is one of the biggest green spaces for dogs in the city. Rob Ho, who used to live nearby, now drives down from Queens with his dog. “It’s the biggest and nicest park,” says Ho, “When it’s maintained.”

After the city spent more than half a million dollars on renovations, many are frustrated by the lack of upkeep. “People come here and say, ‘If the city doesn’t care about the place, why should I?'” Gheida says.

A representative from Council member Gentile’s office has been in contact with the Parks department and stated that the grass will be cut in the next few days.

Update: A spokesperson from the NYC Parks department stated in an email that “Parks maintains this dog park regularly as part of our maintenance of the park, but as with all dog parks, we also rely on the support of the organized group that uses it and enforces the rules.”