Park-goers say athletic field is covered with poop, holes after pet owners let dogs off-leash
BROOKLYN (WABC) -- Park-goers in Brooklyn are complaining about off-leash dogs taking over Green Central Knoll Park.
They say the pets are ruining ballfields and leaving behind waste, but dog owners say there's nowhere else to bring their pets.
Pets are not allowed at the three-acre park that sits on the border of Bushwick and Williamsburg, but residents say owners let their dogs dig holes and leave unwanted surprises.
The little league players are upset that their home field, Green Central Knoll, is gone to the dogs.
"There's poop all over the field and all that. Like, one time, like, two times I stepped on poop once when I was playing outfield. So then it's really nasty out here," player Jesus Arce said.
"It's very sad. I know I've stepped on it and I know a couple kids here have stepped on it, and it's just not nice for them to do that," said Owen Sherman.
The dog droppings were easy to spot as were the holes dug up by the dogs.
The park is off-limits to pets and the gates are locked when the field isn't being used, but there is an area where the fence has been cut.
"It's not a dog run. There's grass. But the grass is intended, obviously, to meet the regulation of like softball sports," Councilmember Jennifer Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez is frustrated by the lack of respect by dog owners.
"We want them to follow the rules. We have to prioritize as adults, especially me as an elected leader. I have to prioritize that this is a space for people, the community, for humans," Gutierrez said.
She suggests using one of the two dog runs six blocks away.
And while the parks department has issued summonses, they don't seem to be enough of a deterrent.
"We don't need a slap on the wrist like my mom used to do. When I did something bad, I had to pay for it. All right. We don't need that no more. It's over. We got to stop. It has to stop," Robert Camacho said.
Eyewitness News spoke with one dog owner who lets her dog run at the park and says she picks up after her dog, but also says as far as she's concerned, there is no turning back. She said the field will continue to be used by dog owners and their pets.
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