Sen. Martinez

.06/29/2023 – Legislation to Allow Dogs in NYS Parks On Hold

This entry was posted in Latest News Headline and tagged Assemb Stern Legislation LI-DOG Petition NYS Beaches On Hold Sen. Martinez on by

 

No Dogs Allowed Sign

Legislation to Allow Dogs in ALL NYS Parks Including Beaches On Hold

Legislation Remains Top Priority for Bills’ Sponsors

Please Continue to Share LI-DOG’s Petition to Lift the Dog Ban on NYS’s Long Island Beaches!

Unfortunately, the legislation introduced by NYS Senator Monica Martinez and Assemblyman Steve Stern allowing dogs in all New York State parks including beaches (with restrictions) did not succeed in the Legislative term ended in June. Apparently, it is not unusual for new legislation to be deferred to the next session. The legislation has been amended to address concerns that arose in their respective Parks Committees and we have been assured passing the bills continues to be a high priority for both Sen. Martinez and Assemb. Stern. Please continue to share our petition to Lift the Dog Ban on NYS’s LI Beaches with all your dog-loving NY friends and family! We’re confident with YOUR support and the support of Sen. Martinez and Assemb. Stern, we will lift the ban on dogs on New York State beaches on Long Island for good! For more information, read Legislation to Allow Dogs in NYS Parks On Hold.

 

06/29/2023 – Legislation to Allow Dogs in NYS Parks On Hold

This entry was posted in Latest News Article and tagged Assemb Stern Legislation LI-DOG Petition NYS Beaches On Hold Sen. Martinez on by

 

No Dogs Allowed Sign

Photo Credit: Joann Garguola

Legislation to Allow Dogs in ALL NYS Parks Including Beaches on Hold

Legislation Remains Top Priority for Bills’ Sponsors

Please Continue to Share the Petition to Lift the Ban on Dogs on NYS Beaches on Long Island!

Unfortunately, the legislation introduced by NYS Senator Monica Martinez and Assemblyman Steve Stern allowing dogs in all New York State parks including beaches (with restrictions) did not succeed in the Legislative term that ended in June. Early on, we had been cautioned that it is not unusual for a new piece of legislation to be deferred to the next session of the Legislature.

We understand there was much discussion and concern regarding the bills in their respective Parks Committees and therefore, the bills were amended to address those concerns. For example, dogs are not allowed specifically on beaches where people swim and sunbathe. The overall intent of the legislation, however, remains clear: Dogs will be allowed in all NYS Parks.

While we are disappointed the legislation did not move further, we have been assured that passing this legislation continues to be a high priority for both Sen. Martinez and Assemb. Stern.

We want to thank everyone who emailed and called their NYS elected officials and members of the Parks Committees in support of the legislation, and we thank you in advance for your continued support as we push forward.

We also want to thank the almost 7,000 New Yorkers who have already signed our petition. The people who have signed come from all over New York State from Rochester to Riverhead! Please continue to share the petition to Lift the Ban on Dogs on NYS’s LI Beaches with all your dog-loving NY friends and family (if they have not already signed), so that we have thousands more signatures by the end of the year!

Many of LI-DOG’s most successful campaigns have taken two, three or even more years to complete. We are confident with the leadership and support of elected officials like Sen. Martinez and Assemb. Stern and with YOUR continued support and help, we will lift the ban on dogs on New York State beaches on Long Island for good!

 

04/24/2023 – NYS Legislation To Allow Dogs on Beaches

This entry was posted in Latest News Article and tagged A.6244 Assemblyman Stern LI-DOG Petition Lift the Dog Ban on NYS Beaches NYS Legislatiion S.4993 Sen. Martinez on by

 

No Dogs Allowed Sign

Photo Credit: Joann Garguola

Legislation Introduced to Allow Dogs in ALL New York State Parks including Beaches!

 

Contact Your NYS Senator and Assemblymember NOW to Support/Co-Sponsor S.4993 in the Senate and A.6244 in the Assembly!

 

Find Your NYS Senator    Find Your NYS Assemblymember

 

Check out recent media coverage:

Newsday, Dog Ban on Long Island’s State Beaches Could be Lifted Under Proposed Legislation

CBS NewsNY, Legislation Moving Through Albany to Allow Dogs to have State Park Beach Access

In a big step towards lifting the ban on dogs on New York State beaches on Long Island, New York State Senator Monica Martinez, the former Deputy LI Regional Director of NYS Parks and now NYS Senator from Brentwood, has introduced S.4993–a bill to allow dogs in ALL NY State Parks, including beaches! New York Assemblyman Steve Stern from Dix Hills, who has worked with LI-DOG since 2021 to lift the ban on dogs on NYS LI beaches, swiftly followed suit by introducing A.6244 in the NYS Assembly.

Specifically, the bill says:  “Dogs shall be allowed in all New York State Parks…including but not limited to trails and beaches.”

The next few weeks are critical to getting this legislation passed in both the Senate and Assembly. Email or call your NYS Senator and NYS Assemblymember today!

The New York State Office of Parks manages 14,000 acres of Long Island parks with shoreline access yet prohibits ALL access to beaches on Long Island to people with dogs. Denying access to so much recreational space to dog owners who pay taxes that support this public parkland is unacceptable.

New Yorkers want change. LI-DOG launched a petition to Lift the Dog Ban on New York’s Long Island Beaches in 2021. The petition has more than 6,700 signers, but we need more! If you haven’t already signed our petition, sign it today!

It is important to note the bill protects sensitive wildlife areas and gives the Parks Commissioner the authority to restrict access to swimming beaches, playgrounds and other areas typically set off-limits to dogs. In other words, the Commissioner still has the power to restrict dogs from beaches where people sunbathe and swim. However, NYS parks cover thousands of acres of shoreline and trails that are appropriate for people with dogs.

The law requires:

  • Owners to pick up after their dogs and properly dispose of waste.
  • New York State parks to install clean up stations including garbage cans and biodegradable waste bags.
  • All dogs be under the control of their owners and that they be leashed at all times, unless a state park designates a specific unleashed area (such as the new dog run at Belmont Lake State Park).

In addition, as is common throughout New York State, dog owners are responsible for any damage or harm caused by their dogs. To read the bill, go NYS Legislative Information. Type in: S04993, that’s S, zero, 4993.

NY State elected officials must work to lift the ban on dogs on Long Island beaches. Denying access to this major public recreational resource to so many people who own dogs and pay taxes that support this public land is unacceptable. Let New Yorkers bring their dogs to the beach!

What You Can Do: Email or Call Your NYS Senator and NYS Assemblymember TODAY!

Key points to communicate to elected officials:

  • Please co-sponsor S.4993 (for your Senator) and A.6244 (for your Assemblymember), which will allow dogs in ALL NYS parks including beaches.
  • People with dogs support public parks through their taxes, but are banned from all beaches in NYS public parks on LI.
  • Access to public parks is a basic right and need. It’s not right to cut off access to so much public land to so many people.
  • The bill protects endangered wildlife and the power of the Parks Commissioner to restrict dogs from bathing beaches, playgrounds and other areas typically set off-limits to dogs.
  • Support for this common-sense bill will make a big positive change in the quality of life of thousands of New Yorkers.
  • It’s time for New York State to catch up with other areas around the country from Maine to Florida and Washington State to California that have found ways to accommodate people with dogs on their beaches!

Make sure to let all your dog-loving friends and family in New York State know about the bill and ask them to contact their NYS Senator and their NYS Assemblymember to co-sponsor and support S.4993 in the Senate and A.6244 in the Assembly.

In addition, if you haven’t already signed our petition to Lift the Ban on Dogs on New York State Beaches on Long Island, sign it NOW and urge all your dog-loving friends and family in New York to sign, too! Don’t forget to leave a comment. Comments from people are a powerful way to strengthen our message to elected officials.

Also, make sure to share our posts on social media including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with the hashtags #DogFriendlyLIBeaches, #LIDogFriendlyBeaches, and #timeforaccess.

Remember: The next few weeks are critical. Email or Call Your NYS Senator and your NYS Assemblymember TODAY!

 

08/07/2019 – Gardiner Dog Park Now Open!

This entry was posted in Latest News Article and tagged Gardiner Dog Park Gardiner Park Phil Berdolt Sen. Boyle Sen. Martinez Suffolk County Parks on by

 

Photo Credit: Jeanine Chang

Gardiner Dog Park Now Open!

Large New Dog Park Features Large Dog, Small Dog and Agility Training Areas

(Google Map)

 

Suffolk County’s popular Gardiner Park in Bay Shore has a big, new dog park!

The dog park, which is the result of the efforts of New York State Senator Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore) and NYS Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood), covers 64,000 square feet or about one and a half acres. It features three sections: an 80′ x 300′ small dog area; a 120′ x 300′ large dog area and a 40′ x 100′ agility training area. The provision of an agility training area is a first for a Suffolk County dog park, noted Suffolk Parks Commissioner Phil Berdolt.

Each of the sections is completely enclosed by 4′ high, black vinyl-coated chain link fence and two watering stations have been installed. Plus, in an effort to provide shade during the summer and a more natural setting, many of the existing trees have been left in place, the Parks Commissioner noted.

The funds for the new dog park came from a $100,000 grant obtained by Sen. Boyle. “This is something I’ve thought about for a long time,” said the Senator whose family owns a toy Fox Terrier named Olivia. “It’s a beautiful park to begin with and I’ve gone to Gardiner often with my dog to walk her on-leash, but I always thought it would be a nice place for a dog run.” The west side of the Town of Islip has long needed an off-leash area, he added.

Senator Boyle worked with former Suffolk Legislator and now NYS Senator Monica Martinez on the project. Senator Martinez sponsored the resolution in the Suffolk County Legislature to accept the grant and authorize the dog park.

“We are thrilled that Suffolk County has built this beautiful new dog park for us and our dogs,” said LI-DOG President Ginny Munger Kahn. “We’re extremely grateful to NYS Sen. Phil Boyle for getting the funding for the project and to NYS Sen. Martinez for making it happen.”

As is the case for all Suffolk County parks, on-leash dog walking will continue to be allowed throughout Gardiner Park. Some dog owners had been told that on-leash dog walking was at risk as a result of the new dog park. However, in a statement to LI-DOG, Commissioner Berdolt noted: “This is our most utilized park for patrons and their pets. We will continue to keep this park an on-leash friendly park.”

“I can’t speak highly enough of the job Suffolk County has done building the dog park,” added Sen. Boyle. “This will be a very special place and I can’t tell you how happy I am it’s finally coming to fruition.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please let Sen. Boyle and Sen. Martinez know how much you appreciate their work to get a beautiful new dog park created in Gardiner Park. Email Sen. Boyle at: pboyle@nysenate.gov or call 631-665-2311; Email Sen. Martinez at Martinez@nysenate.gov or call 631-360-3356.

Please also let Suffolk Parks Commissioner Phil Berdolt know what a great job the Parks Dept. has done building yet another, big, beautiful dog park in Suffolk County! Email Commissioner Berdolt at scparks@suffolkcountyny.gov or call 631-854-4985.

Help make sure Gardiner Park works for all park patrons by keeping your dogs leashed unless you are in the dog park itself. Also, as always, please remember to clean up after your dog.

Thank you for your support!