FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2022
CONTACT:
Kaye Dyja
212-818-0580
kdyja@council.nyc.gov
City Council Member Keith Powers Announces New Dog Run on the East Side
The new space will give residents more opportunities to access green space and let their pets play outside
New York, NY – Today, Council Member Powers announced a new temporary dog run in Murray Hill. The dog run will be sited at New Wave Pier, located on the East River Esplanade between 38th and 39th Streets. This new space will provide more options to residents in the Murray Hill area, while also preventing overcrowding at already existing dog runs.
“For too long, our community has needed more places for our community’s pets to run around, play, and enjoy the outdoors,” said Council Member Keith Powers. “I’m very proud to deliver this much-needed dog run for our neighborhood, and always proud to support my favorite, furry constituents.”
Currently, the large area between Stuyvesant Square Dog Run, Peter Detmold Park, and Robert Moses Park lacks enough working dog runs for the community. This added location at New Wave Pier will give East Side pet owners much-needed, accessible park space for their dogs to play and to run off-leash. The plan also includes new benches, a tool shed, trash receptacles, and pet needs like water and bags, and will designate a separate area for smaller dogs. The dog run is expected to open this November.
Council Member Powers has allocated $15,000 to the Parks Department to help create the new dog run based on feedback from constituents and community groups, including the Alliance for Kips Bay and Community Board Six.
“As the district with the lowest amount of greenspace in New York City, the lack of open space has extended to our canine constituents for far too long,” said Kyle Athayde, Chair of Manhattan Community Board Six (CB6). “CB6 has long advocated for dog runs in our district, so we are grateful for Councilmember Powers’ leadership in finally providing this much needed amenity. This dog run will not only allow our dogs to live full, healthy lives, but it will also provide joy to their human counterparts!”
“St. Vartan Park Conservancy is thrilled that the dog run is close to reality,” said St. Vartan Park Conservancy Founder Kevin O’Keefe. “We are grateful to Council Member Powers and Alliance for Kips Bay for their leadership. In addition, we salute Murray Hill resident Linda Levine, who cares for many dogs in the community. Two years ago, Linda asked for guidance on how to start a needed dog run in the area. Soon after Linda and I set out on this journey, we were pleasantly reminded that there are many in the community who are willing to provide the time and resources needed to improve the quality of life in our community.”
“The Kips Bay neighborhood has more than 5,300 licensed dogs, one of the densest populations of dogs in Midtown,” said Alliance for Kips Bay President Molly Hollister. “It also has one of the fewest public parks in Manhattan, let alone dog runs. Alliance for Kips Bay is thrilled that NYC Parks is creating a dog run along the East River at 38th Street this fall and is thankful for the support of CM Powers.”
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