[Reader-submitted photo of the West Lawn]
From the EVG inbox...
I was playing with my toddler in the unlocked area in Tompkins Square Park — north of the chess tables and south of the St. Mark's Place entrance. I’ve noticed the New Amsterdam School playing there so I assumed it was a space where children are allowed. A couple of people came in and let their very large dogs off leash. One woman informed me that this area was now an official dog area, though there is no sign posted. She said that for over a year this is the only area (besides the official dog run) where you won’t get a ticket for letting your dog off-leash.
I was wondering if you knew if this area is an official dog area, or just an area that dog owners are claiming for themselves.
The reader asked to put this question out to readers. (One vote for B — dog owners are claiming it for themselves.)
This came up several times last year... when Park regulars complained about more and more people letting their (large) dogs run loose in sections of Tompkins Square Park — especially in that West Lawn the reader above described ...
One owner of a large dog said at the time last year that he didn't like to use the official dog run because it gets too crowded.
Park officials eventually padlocked the West Lawn... for awhile.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Makeshift dog run in Tompkins Square Park has been padlocked