Dog Run Not Coming to Steuben Playground in North Clinton Hill

Pictured: Steuben Playground. Image via Google Maps.

NAVY YARD, BROOKLYN — There are too many trees in Steuben Playground, located just north of Clinton Hill at the edge of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, to allow the Parks Department to install a dog run there, members of Community Board 2 have told Patch.

CB2 assistant district manager Carol-Ann Church said that on Monday, the Parks Department informed the board that there are too many roots running through the park to allow for the dog run's installation.

The problem, she explained, is that dog runs require the city to dig into the ground about 18 inches, which the roots won't allow for.

Robert Perris, CB2's district manager, said that the board has explored the possibility of a dog run over several years, but that in light of the information from Parks, the group won't be recommending one to be installed.

The news follows a recent campaign for a dog run led by Clinton Hill resident Jaishi Abichandani.

Abichandani said she and her eight-year-old son Xenith walk through the park every day, and have in the past been bothered by large numbers of dogs allowed to run around the park off of their leashes.

Abichandani also said dog owners and walkers have traditionally done a poor job of cleaning up after the pets.

"This is not about hating dogs," Abichandani said. "What I don't appreciate is dog owners who don't obey the law. I have a little boy who is scared of dogs, and I'd like my child to feel safe in a public space."

Abichandani reported the problems to CB2 in April, as well as to the office of Councilman Stephen Levin, whose district includes Navy Yard.

She said that since then, she's observed more policing of the park and a positive change in behavior, resulting in more dogs kept on their leashes and a cleaner environment.

But she still wants a dog run to be installed so that dogs will have their own area. To that end, she said she recently collected more than 400 signatures from people in the park who supported the idea.

Abichandani said she was disappointing to hear the assessment from the Parks Department, and will continue raising the issue.

Church said that a remaining option could involve instituting off-leash hours for dogs in the park, though that would have to be enforced by those using the green space.