Community input: HOW SHOULD WE MANAGE THE CENTRAL LAWN THIS SUMMER?
A mock up of the Central Lawn without a dividing fence.
With 1,684 responses in over four weeks, the Summer Central Lawn Management Survey (“How Should We Manage the Central Lawn this summer?”) is Fort Greene Park Conservancy’s most responded to survey ever!
Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts, encouraged their neighbors to take the survey, and shared any additional feedback either in-person or online. The sheer volume of response shows us how passionate you are about helping NYC Parks and the Conservancy maintain lawns for the benefit of the neighborhood and local ecology.
Based on best care practices for the maintenance and establishment of new lawns, as well as in consideration of the feedback that we received through this survey, NYC Parks has decided to make the entire Central Lawn passive and on-leash only through the summer.
park user preference
Based on the survey, we have learned that a majority of respondents (54%) would prefer that the entire Central Lawn be made passive/on-leash only throughout the summer months. This response aligns with the fact that as many as 57% of survey takers intend to use the Central Lawn exclusively for passive use.
where can i take my dog for off-leash hours?
We acknowledge that while 54% of survey takers prefer the whole lawn be passive/on-leash only, 46% wished for half of the lawn to be available for active-use this summer, a not insignificant portion of respondents. To anyone who is disappointed by the final decision we would like to clarify two points:
This arrangement is for summer management of the lawn only. At least half, if not the whole lawn, will be open for active and off-leash use in the Fall and Winter. We will keep you updated on changes to lawn management.
Other active-use lawns are and will continue to remain active through the summer, including Myrtle Lawn, the East Lawn, the lawn south of the Monument, and all other lawns not marked for Passive-Use Only.
All yellow areas are open to active use. Off-leash is before 9am and after 9pm only.
Active lawns are open all day for informal, non-cleated sports and for off-leash hours, which occur before 9am and after 9pm.
WHY WASN’T MAKING THE LAWN PET-FREE AN OPTION?
We’d also like to acknowledge feedback we’ve received during collection of the survey requesting pet-free areas. There are currently four passive-use only, pet-free zones in the park. These areas have the benefit of being in shade.
All blue areas are passive-only, meaning no pets are permitted on those lawns–not even if they’re on-leash.
As the largest flat lawn in Fort Greene Park, the Central Lawn is used for more than just off-leash when open for active use. Park users also engage in active, non-cleated sports. Organized, competitive sports are never allowed on the Central Lawn since it is not a NYC Parks permitted athletic field. To find a nearby park with a permitted athletic field, please visit the NYC Parks website.
We remain committed to better understanding the perspectives of all park users as we work to help Parks manage maintenance and use of the park. Please continue to reach out to us to share your viewpoint and get involved. You can email us at info@fortgreenepark.org or shakara@fortgreenepark.org.
Frequently Asked questions
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While the lawn is open to passive and on-leash use only this summer, it is still fragile and requires the participation of all park users to maintain its lush appearance. This summer as you visit the lawn for passive and on-leash activities please keep the following in mind.
Avoid walking across the lawn while it is wet. This is when grass and soil are at their most fragile. Walking risks compacting the soils and tearing the grass from its root systems. Because grass can go dormant in the summer, it is unable to regenerate quickly, meaning any damage could remain or worsen until the fall.
Don’t dig or stake things in the lawn. Once again, dormant grass is unable to regenerate during the highest heat periods of the summer months. By digging or allowing your pets to dig, you are creating damage that cannot be repaired prior to fall. By staking items such as signs, posts, and more into the soil, you are also damaging underground root systems that are essential for the health of the grass.
Remove trash and dispose of in the appropriate receptacles. Litter is not just unsightly, it can damage the health of the lawn. Items that are walked on can become embedded in the soil. Other items, if not picked up quickly can cause uneven growth as parts of the lawn do not receive adequate sunlight or rain.
Do not ride bikes across the lawn. Cyclists are required to dismount their bikes when entering the parks. Riding bikes across the lawns, whether the soils is wet or dry, causes compaction and tears up grass
No organized sports on the lawn. Over the summer, you can still engage in informal sporting activities. For example, you are welcome to throw a frisbee or kick a soccer ball to a friend but an organized game of ultimate frisbee or a pick-up soccer match would not be allowed.
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NYC Parks is keeping temporary fences around the Central Lawn because the lawn is closed from 6 am to 9:30 am each day as well as for maintenance (such as watering or overseeding). We will keep you updated on any changes to lawn management.
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Due to Fort Greene Park’s status as a historic landmark, the park is unable to implement a dedicated dog run. The Conservancy agrees there is a need for a dedicated dog run in Fort Greene and its surrounding neighborhoods to support the growing population of dogs in the area as well as the desire to allow dogs off-leash during on-leash hours (9am to 9pm). NYC Parks has four requirements for the creation of dog runs:
A dedicated group of volunteers who not only advocate for the creation of a dog run, but will also care for the dog run once open. NYC Parks staff are not responsible for maintenance of dog runs located in parks.
An appropriate location for the dog run. Rules require that it cannot be sited near or over major infrastructure such as underground subway lines, pre-existing playing courts (ie basketball, tennis, etc), or near large trees.
Broad community support from the Community Board where the dog run will be sited and the community as a whole. Also note that parks that have a dog run do not have off-leash hours and vice versa.
Finally a new dog run needs significant funding to be built—approximately $1 to $1.5 million.
If you are part of a group trying to build a dog run in Fort Greene or the surrounding neighborhood, please reach out to info@fortgreenepark.org. We regularly receive feedback about the implementation of a dog run in the park. While we cannot build a dog run, we would like to connect concerned park users with your group to support the building of such a space in the surrounding community.
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While areas that exclusively use lawn do not provide as many ecosystem services as areas with trees and wildflowers, Fort Greene Park provides much habitat through the existence of trees and gardens throughout the park. Lawns allow for the diversity of usage that park users have come to expect while visiting the park. Additionally, the rehabilitation of the Central Lawn provides significant ecosystem services.
Lawn better absorbs heat and sound than bare sediment—what the Dust Bowl was before. This in effect helps keep the park cooler and quieter to our neighbors.
With grass and clover roots anchoring soils into place, they prevent dust cloud formation and erosion and soil loss (one of the biggest issues in Fort Greene Park). Eroded areas of the park tend to be rocky and strewn with decades-old pieces of broken glass. A thick groundcover makes for a better park experience for all.
NYC Parks, Fort Greene Park Conservancy, and our partner PUPS, selected a mixture of grass and microclover that would help nourish the soil. Microclover is a nitrogen fixer that helps reduce the need for fertilizers. When the lawn is mowed, decomposing grass and microclover return nitrogen and other micronutrients to the soil.
Urban Park Rangers have noticed increased activity from birds, insects, and other critters in areas populated with grass compared to areas of the park that are dominated by the annual weeds that go dormant in winter.
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Please share any and all questions, concerns, and feedback with info@fortgreenepark.org or shakara@fortgreenepark.org.