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NYCDOG Proposes compromise settlement of off-leash suit |
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NYCdog will not get into a name calling contest with Mr. Holden or the members of the Juniper Park Civic Association. We prefer to expend our volunteer efforts on positive contributions to our neighborhoods.
The civic association has a long history of contributing to the Maspeth/Middle Village communities and we hope they will now step-up to serve all the members of their neighborhood- including dog owners.
That said, NYCdog contends that JPCA does not have legal standing to force elimination of off-leash rights on a city-wide basis. They are not elected officials and there is absolutely no evidence of a public crisis that requires judicial intervention.
It is disingenuous of JPCA to dismiss consideration of a dog park as a compromise resolution of their lawsuit. They initiated the lawsuit. They can drop it for any reason whatsoever.
Their lawsuit claims that:
there is a problem with off-leash dogs in Juniper Park; albeit without any evidence beyond anecdotal reports that cannot be substantiated. A new dog park within the 55 acres of Juniper Park would clearly resolve any perceived problems with off-leash dogs in Juniper Park.
Despite its limited (and recently cut) budget, the NYC Parks Department offered to construct a dog park within Juniper Park and then to abolish off-leash rights within that specific park (as is their policy when dog parks/runs are built).
The civic association could walk into court on August 29th and announce that they would accept that as a reasonable compromise.
Communities throughout the City are getting new dog parks thanks to the positive contributions of dog owners and the willingness of Parks to work with them.
We want to work with Mr. Holden and the JPCA to create a dog park within Juniper Park. It could become a model for the entire city. It would actually increase home values in their neighborhood as do any desirable area improvements. And it would allow older and disabled residents to own dogs that easily could be exercised and socialized in the safe environment of this popular park. It would allow families to interact with their dogs without bothering other park users. And, the recently
created, 200 member strong Juniper Park Dog Owner Group would be ready to step-up and help maintain both the dog park and the surrounding environs making the park cleaner and safer for all users.
With their help, this dog park could become the focus of television shows highlighting how neighborhood disputes can be turned into neighborhood victories. If they work with us towards this goal, NYCdog would be the first to praise Mr. Holden and the JPCA association for their contributions. That would be a win-win for all the residents of the City of New York.” |
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