Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Hasidic Village Sued Over Sex-Segregated Park
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Dec 11, 2013
Modified Dec 11, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Via NYCLU
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Dec 11, 2013
Modified Dec 11, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
[UPDATE BELOW] The NYCLU and ACLU are suing a Hasidic enclave in Orange County in an attempt to get officials to release information about a park in which women and men are allegedly segregated.
Kiryas Joel, a Satmar-run village located within Monroe, NY, has allegedly been segregating a 283-acre public park by gender since it opened last spring, relegating women to areas with red playground equipment and benches and men to areas with blue playground equipment and benches. Though Satmar law dictates a separation between men and women, the civil rights groups argue that law prohibits any gender-based segregation on public property. "Public parks cannot segregate based on sex any more than they can on race or national origin,” NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said in a statement today. “New Yorkers have every right to know if this is happening here and if tax dollars are supporting something so blatantly unlawful."
The park, which also boasts separate walking paths for men and women, had its official opening in April, and was built using "special financing" obtained by the village's mayor, according to Haredim website BHOLWorld.com. Early photographs of the park showcased the segregated areas, which were designed under supervision from Kiryas Joel's "Committee of Modesty," and in July the NYCLU and ACLU filed a Freedom of Information request for financial documents pertaining to the park. That request was denied, and today they filed a lawsuit with Orange County's state Supreme Court asking the village to release the documents.
Calls to Kiryas Joel's legal representation have not been returned, but attorney Donald Nichol told the ACLU and NYCLU that "the Village has no gender-segregated park." This isn't the first time Kiryas Joel's been the center of controversy, and around the turn of the century the enclave was in battle with the New York State Board of Education in an attempt to create a public school district for disabled children; the village joined the school board in 2002.
In 2008, census rankings found that Kiryas Joel had the highest poverty rate in the U.S., and most of its residents used food stamps.
Update 4:49 p.m.: Donald Nichol, who represents the village of Kiryas Joel, tells us he has not reviewed any lawsuit from the ACLU or NYCLU. He forwarded us a letter to the NYCLU in August regarding the group's earlier FOIL request; in the letter he denies the Village has a segregated park:
There are no records meeting your requirements. The Village has no "gender-segregated public park located on approximately 280 acres of property." Thus the Village has no information regarding such a facility...The Village has no laws, rules or regulations concerning gender segregation. The Village has never enforced any segregation of any type or kind.
Tagged
aclu
hasidism
kiryat joel
monroe
nyclu
orange county
satmar
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures two, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .