The Southtown Dog Run was set for replacement – or at least improvement – in 2019. That’s when RIOC yielded to community pressure, squashing a plan jammed into Blackwell Park.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The Southtown Dog Run: Fit for Dogs… or Anything?
In October, 2019, community opposition mounted against RIOC’s plans for relocating the Southtown Dog Run in a corner of the already crowded Blackwell Park. And in December, according to a report in the Roosevelt Islander, then President/CEO Susan Rosenthal cancelled the plan. She said RIOC “…listened to some community opposition.”
Those were the days, weren’t they?
Rosenthal added that the “temporary” dog run in open space where Building 9 was planned needed an upgrade to go with a move. But then, after the unseemly unseating or Rosenthal in June, 2020, the plans stalled. Dog owners are left with the choice of an inadequate, unpleasant space or finding somewhere else for free play.
Plenty of dog walkers show us that dogs abound in Southtown, yet the ugly dog run is almost always empty. Is anyone at RIOC paying any attention.
Current President/CYA Shelton J. Haynes hasn’t bragged about coming up with a cure nor has he shown evidence of even awareness. That’s unfortunate because the Southtown Dog Run is ugly as sin, unfair to both dogs and their companions and again signals the degrading of quality of life issues on Roosevelt Island.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily
- What’s New Across Western Queens: Safety, Community, and Spring at Our DoorstepExplore what’s new across Western Queens this week, including safety updates, casino developments, real estate, and local dining—news that shapes Roosevelt Island life.
- A Full Week Across the River: How Roosevelt Island and Queens Lives IntersectA full week across the river shows how life on Roosevelt Island connects with Queens—covering public safety, legal updates, G train disruptions, and neighborhood events.
- Roosevelt Island Weekly Recap: Community Life, Local News, and Everyday ConnectionsOur Roosevelt Island weekly recap covers local news, community events, and the threads of daily life connecting neighbors on and off the island.
- Queens News Highlights and Roosevelt Island Community ConnectionsExplore the week’s Queens news highlights and Roosevelt Island community connections, from public safety to housing, historic places, and local events.
- How Queens News Shapes Life on Roosevelt Island This WeekExplore how Queens news shapes life on Roosevelt Island, from major fire responses to local court cases and housing initiatives, reflecting the rhythms and routines of our shared city life.
AVAC: Where the Pipe Curves
This is the final installment in my notes from the December 2nd, Operations Advisory Committee meeting, following “An Emergency, Apparently” and “Rust Is Funny Until It Isn’t”.
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