Why Dog Runs Matter
Why do dog runs matter? For dog owners, the answer is obvious. But for the community at-large — particularly the City Council and Community Boards who wield local power — it takes some convincing.
The Parks Department, in a 2007 press release announcing the official adoption of off-leash hours, details how helping dog owners helps the community as a whole:
“Allowing responsible dog owners to exercise their dogs is good for the community. Dog owners are community members who regularly visit parks, and have a vested interest in keeping parks clean and safe. Their constant presence, especially at night when parks are less crowded, helps keep parks and the surrounding neighborhoods safe.”
Volunteers in the dog community echoed that sentiment: investment in a dog run increases community involvement and lifts up the entire park. Rick Duro, who runs the Sunnyside United Dog Society in Queens, says dog owners use the park 365 days a year, regardless of weather.
“We’re the eyes and ears of the neighborhood,” Duro said.
Esta-Joy Sydell, President of the Forest Park Barking Lot, fought to get lighting around the dog run, improving dangerous conditions at night for all park visitors.
Beyond the general welfare of the park, the dog run has a very personal benefit for dog owners and their pets. Without a safe, legal place to exercise and socialize their animals, dog ownership in the city can be extremely challenging. Duro said dog runs benefit “the greater good.”
“Socialized dogs are better in the community. Exercised dogs aren’t barking all the time in your apartment,” Duro explained. “Everybody wins.”
One less obvious benefit of dog runs is the way they connect people and help build a sense of community within the city. In a place like New York, it’s easy to forget how many people there are with similar interests and common goals. The dog run allows people to naturally gather and form bonds within their neighborhood.
“We’ve just gotten to talk to so many more of our neighbors than we would have usually,” says Courtney Dreher, who is a regular at Maria Hernandez Park with her dog Ralph. “It’s just a good icebreaker to talk to people and everybody here has been very friendly … It’s just a nice way to bring people together.”
Duro took it a step further, describing his dog park family as the “truest sense of community.” He said members of his organization have met, dated, gotten married and had children — all because of the dog park.
As volunteer groups advocate for the betterment of their dog runs, it’s important to understand the value proposition of dog runs in general. Sometimes, convincing a Community Board that the dog run matters is a critical first step in park improvement.
Why do dog runs matter? Duro’s conclusion captures the essence of the dog run: “You’re building a community within the community.”
