BED-STUY, BK— The dog run at Herbert Von King Park has closed temporarily after routine soil testing found possible contamination, leaving dog owners without access to the park's fenced-in area while the City determines how and when to address the site.
NYC Parks said the rest of the park does not face a risk of exposure.
The closure comes as the City is already planning a major renovation of the dog run.
NYC Parks expects that capital project to enter construction in fall 2027, and a department spokesperson said the necessary remediation is expected to be completed as part of that work.
The department has not yet provided a reopening date.
NYC Parks has expanded off-leash hours elsewhere inside Herbert Von King Park to before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
Outside those hours, dogs must remain leashed, and posted park rules still apply.
Still, rules remain, such as the signs throughout the park instructing visitors: "No pets."
Residents have raised concerns about unleashed dogs damaging grass, creating safety issues and interfering with families using the lawn.
Chanterelle, a dog owner, said she has not experienced problems because the rules are rarely enforced.
"It's not well enforced so I've never had a problem with it," she said.
Council Member Chi Ossé has pointed to the park's posted rules while responding to complaints from residents who reported sitting in dog waste or feeling uncomfortable around dogs.
"What does that sign say?" Ossé asked in a video recorded at the park. "The sign says no pets."
According to City data, monthly complaints about dogs being off leash more than doubled between 2019 and 2024.
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