Councilwoman Joan Cergol


12/30/2019 – Huntington Opens Heckscher Park to Leashed Dogs

Huntington Opens Heckscher Park to Leashed Dogs!

 

Pilot program sponsored by Councilwoman Joan Cergol includes educational campaign aided by LI-DOG 

 

The Pond at Huntington’s Heckscher Park

A pilot program to allow leashed dogs in Huntington’s Heckscher Park started January 1, 2020! The pilot program is the result of a resolution sponsored by Huntington Councilwoman Joan Cergol and passed unanimously by the Huntington Town Board on Oct. 16th, 2019. The resolution establishes a three-month pilot program with the expectation is that if the first three months are successful, the pilot will be extended for another three months and so on throughout the year.

In order to make sure the pilot program is a success, Councilwoman Cergol is working with the Long Island Dog Owners Group (LI-DOG) on an educational campaign to spread the word about common sense rules for the park.

The educational campaign includes:

  • An explanatory video featuring Councilwoman Cergol and her beautiful boxer, Dempsey. (See Councilwoman Cergol’s Video now.)
  • Detailed signage to be installed at all park entrances.
  • An at-a-glance card flyer detailing the rules.
  • A dedicated cadre of LI-DOG volunteers who will serve as ambassadors in the park, handing out the card and answering questions from dog owners and persons without dogs. (If you would like to serve as an LI-DOG park ambassador, email lidog_news@yahoo.com.)
  • Installation of dog waste bag dispensers at the park.

“The key to this program’s success is dog owners understanding what is allowed and respecting the rights of all people who want to enjoy Huntington’s signature park, both with and without dogs,” Councilwoman Cergol said. “That’s the main thrust of our educational campaign.”

“LI-DOG’s members understand that bringing their dogs to Heckscher is a privilege that we would like to see become permanent,” said Ginny Munger Kahn, LI-DOG’s president. “Our volunteers want to make sure that all dog owners understand their responsibility to make this program work.”

 

The rules, as noted in both the signage and the information card, require dog owners to:

  • Keep dogs on leash (maximum 6 feet) and under control. No retractable leashes.
  • Pick up and properly dispose of dog waste.
  • Yield to all other park goers on the paths by stepping off the path.
  • Keep dogs out of the playground, picnic areas and tennis courts and the ball field, when in use.
  • Keep dogs quiet during events at the Harry Chapin Rainbow Stage.
  • Avoid wildlife for their safety and their dog’s.
  • Keep dogs out of the plantings and the pond.
  • Have dogs licensed and vaccinated.
  • Have no more than two dogs per handler.
  • Respect other park goers so the park is a good experience for everyone!

Park-goers with safety concerns are advised to call the Town’s 24-hour Public Safety number, 631-351-3234.

“We want everyone to be able to enjoy the beauty and serenity of Heckscher Park and the rules established for this program should ensure that this remains the case,” said Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci. “Please let us know about your experience with the 90-day dog-walking pilot program so that we can fully assess the success of this program at the end of March.”

Councilman Mark Cuthbertson said, “Combining this pilot program with an educational campaign will give us the feedback from residents we need to ensure that everyone can enjoy the park.”

Councilman Eugene Cook said, “Over the years many people have reached out to the Town Board asking to remove the Heckscher Park ban on allowing dogs in the park.  As these residents would like to enjoy using Heckscher Park with their families, including their canine companions, as they have been able to do at other locations without incident for years.  As a dog owner, I understand the strong relationship between an owner and their companion. This pilot program to allow leashed dogs in Heckscher Park will build on those relationships, and it will also be a benefit for our community as a whole.  In order to ensure that this is properly implemented, I would like to hear all of our resident’s comments, concerns, and suggestions during the pilot period so that we can ensure this program can continue in the future or not.”

Councilman Ed Smith said, “I encourage pilot programs. It gives the residents and elected officials the opportunity to work together on programs within the Town to meet everyone’s needs and pleasures.”

The different facets of the educational program were worked out by a committee that included representatives from various Town departments and LI-DOG; Karen Thomas, who organized the petition drive asking for dogs to be allowed in the park; and Len Urban, from the Town’s Citizens Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities. The Citizens Advisory Committee wanted to ensure that a dog-friendly Heckscher remained friendly for everyone, including persons with mobility issues.

“I thank LI-DOG and all of the members of the committee for creating this educational program and I appreciate the dedication of the volunteer ambassadors,” Councilwoman Cergol said.

For more information about the pilot program, call Councilwoman Cergol’s office at 631-351-3173 or email LI-DOG at lidog_news@yahoo.com.

And if you plan to walk your dog to Heckscher Park, please volunteer to become an LI-DOG Park Ambassador! Help us make the pilot program a success by emailing us at lidog_news@yahoo.com.

Thank you for your support!

 


.10/16/2019 – Heckscher Park Pilot Program Allows Leashed Dogs!

 

Huntington Town Board Approves Pilot Program to Allow Leashed Dogs in Heckscher Park!

A resolution introduced by Huntington Councilwoman Joan Cergol to create a pilot program to allow people to walk their leashed dogs in Huntington’s Heckscher Park passed the Town Board unanimously on Wed., Oct. 16th. The pilot program starts Jan. 1st and runs until March 31st when it is assumed it will roll over for another three months. The resolution was the result of an online petition that has gotten more than 2,500 signatures! For details on this groundbreaking development for dog owners, go to Heckscher Park Pilot Program Allows Leashed Dogs! 


10/16/2019 – Heckscher Park Pilot Program Allows Leashed Dogs!

 

Huntington Town Board Approves Pilot Program to Allow Leashed Dogs in Heckscher Park!

Pilot Program to Start Jan. 1st

A resolution introduced by Huntington Councilwoman Joan Cergol to create a pilot program to allow people to walk their leashed dogs in Heckscher Park passed the Huntington Town Board unanimously Wednesday night, Oct. 16th! The groundbreaking vote came at a marathon Town Board Meeting and was greeted with applause.

Thank you to Councilwoman Cergol for introducing the resolution and thank you to Councilman Eugene Cook for seconding it!

The pilot program starts Jan. 1st and runs until March 31st. Assuming the pilot is successful, the program should roll over for the following three months and so on for up to a year. The Parks Director will report back to the Town Board on the initial phase on April 15th with any recommendations.

The resolution is the result of an online petition started by Huntington dog owner and PR pro Karen Thomas. That petition, which asked the Town Board to make Heckscher Park a dog-friendly park by allowing leashed dogs, has generated more than 2,500 signatures and great comments from hundreds of dog owners. (To read the petition, go to Petition to Allow Leashed Dogs in Heckscher Park.  To read some of the great comments made by dog owners, go to Quotes from Petition Signers. ) Thank you to everyone who signed and shared the petition!! Thomas submitted the petition and comments to the Town Board Wednesday night.

The resolution sponsored by Councilwoman Cergol and approved by the Town Board allows people to walk their leashed dogs in Heckscher Park except for in the playground, in picnic areas and on the tennis courts. On-leash dogs are permitted on the sports fields, but only when there are no formal or informal games going on. Also, in an important first, leashed dogs are conditionally permitted during performances at the Harry Chapin Rainbow Stage as long as the dogs are quiet and “in no way disruptive.” Finally, dogs are allowed to be walked on-leash on the path around the pond on the condition that dog owners yield to all other park users.

Concerns have been expressed by some senior citizens and people representing those with disabilities that the path around the pond is too narrow to avoid unwanted encounters between people and dogs. The language in the resolution and proper signage can address those concerns, LI-DOG noted in a Letter Supporting Allowing Leashed Dogs in Heckscher Park. Current park rules state that in addition to cleaning up after their dogs:

• Dogs Must Remain Leashed

• Dogs Must Yield to Other Park Users.

Keeping dogs on leash and under control at all times and yielding to other park users should address any remaining concerns about allowing leashed dogs in Heckscher Park, LI-DOG noted in the letter.

In an effort to make sure the pilot program is successful, LI-DOG, Thomas and other dog owners have agreed to help create and participate in a public education campaign to make sure dog owners are aware of the rules of the park. Starting the pilot program on Jan. 1st will provide ample time to develop the public education effort as well as educate dog owners about the rules during the pilot program phase, noted LI-DOG.

“The relationship between dogs and humans continues to evolve,” said Councilwoman Cergol,  “and it is becoming increasingly common to see humans and their canine companions together in public places –- on streets, in restaurants and stores and in parks. While I understand some of the reservations, at the very least, given the many requests, it is worthwhile undertaking a pilot to see if allowing dogs in Heckscher is workable,” she said.

On-leash access to Heckscher Park has been a top goal of Huntington dog owners for several years. The Town opened virtually all its parks to leashed dogs in August 2017, but carved out an exception for Heckscher Park saying the park was too busy. Now because of the petition started by Thomas and the intense interest dog owners have shown in being able to walk their leashed dogs in the park, plus because Councilwoman Cergol listened to her constituents and got the resolution passed, dog owners will finally have the chance to enjoy Heckscher Park with their pups.

Thanks so much to Karen Thomas, who was a GREAT partner to LI-DOG, for making this happen. Special big thanks to Councilwoman Joan Cergol for sponsoring the resolution and getting it passed unanimously. Finally thanks to all our friends, neighbors and supporters who signed the petition, sent emails and showed up for the Town Board Meeting Wednesday night!

Of course, it’s critical we make sure the pilot program works well, and we’ll depend on our fellow dog owners to make that happen, but in the meantime, this is a BIG win for Huntington dog owners and their pups!

What You Can Do:
Please let Councilwoman Cergol and her colleagues on the Huntington Town Board know how much you appreciate their unanimous support for allowing people to walk their leashed dogs in Heckscher Park. The more people they hear from, the more likely the pilot program will be viewed as successful!

Hon. Chad A. Lupinacci, Supervisor
Town Hall (Room 200)
100 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743
Phone: (631) 351-3030
clupinacci@huntingtonny.gov

Hon. Joan Cergol, Councilwoman
Town Hall (Room 303)
100 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743
Phone: (631) 351-3173
JCergol@huntingtonny.gov

Hon. Eugene Cook, Councilman
Town Hall (Room 303)
100 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743
Phone: (631) 351-3174
ECook@HuntingtonNY.gov

Hon. Mark Cuthbertson, Councilman
Town Hall (Room 303)
100 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743
Phone: (631) 351-3172
MCuthbertson@HuntingtonNY.gov

Hon. Edmund J.M. Smyth, Councilman
Town Hall (Room 303)
100 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743
Phone: (631) 351-3175
ESmyth@HuntingtonNY.gov

Thank you for your support!

 


.10/13/2019 – Resolution Intro’d to Allow Leashed Dogs in Heckscher Park!

 

Resolution To Allow Leashed Dogs in Heckscher Park!

Proposal is Result of OnLine Petition with 2,000+ Signatures

People would be allowed to walk their leashed dogs in Huntington’s Heckscher Park under a pilot program proposed by Huntington Councilwoman Joan Cergol. The proposal for a pilot program is up for a vote at Huntington Town Hall Wednesday evening, Oct. 16th! The proposal is the result of an online petition that has generated more than 2,000 signatures that asks the Huntington Town Board to make Heckscher Park a dog-friendly park by allowing leashed dogs. To get details on the proposal and what you can do to help make it happen, go to Resolution Introduced to Allow On-Leash Dog Walking in Heckscher Park!