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Washington Square Dog Run Submerged In Gross Restroom Runoff
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jun 13, 2011
Modified Jun 13, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jun 13, 2011
Modified Jun 13, 2011
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We could spend most of the day watching pooches frolic around the Washington Square Park dog run. Watching them get intestinal illnesses? Not as much fun. Yesterday a reader informed us that most of the dog run was under water from the rain as well as runoff from the adjacent restrooms.
Backed up drain from restroom filling the run, mosquitos everywhere, hookworm and giardia epidemics. This is crazy, where are our dogs supposed to go and why doesn't the city care about this diseased cesspool in the middle of Washington Square Park?
We can't confirm whether any dogs have become ill due to the water, but the puddle indeed looks pretty foul. The Department of Parks & Recreation, who created the dog runs "with the expertise of a Parks Department landscape architect," state on their website that the dog runs "encourage play while supplying good drainage, safe lighting, and healthy plantings," which may all be true except for the "drainage" part. We're still awaiting comment from the Parks Department.
Tagged
dog runs
dogs
park safety
parks department
washington square park
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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