Paws Place Dog Park — Attraction in City of New Rochelle

Racial Discrimination Officer #: 10097

Look at beautiful family! My partner and I took our well mannered, professionally trained dogs to Paws Place in New Rochelle on January 26 at around 1130am. Our dogs play respectfully and nicely with all the other dogs, causing no disruption. Around 12pm we decided to head home-- while walking out of the dog park a policer officer approached us and asked if we had permit for our dogs and that all dogs need park permits to play in the park. We told him we were unaware of that policy and that we have been to this particular park a ton of times and has never been asked if we had park permits. Which is totally fine, as we respect the park and its rules. It's what happened after...The officer proceeded to ask us if we read the signs around the perimeter of the park (in a rude sarcastic tone) so I asked him if someone called and reported 2 black unfamiliar faces in park and that I will stick around to make sure he asks every person in the dog park if they have the proper park permit for their dogs. He proceeded to ask for my partner his name and information as he started writing up a city code violation warning. My partner and I both left our wallets in the car. He asked my partner "are you going to give me the right name and address or do we need to go to the car and see your license?" Why would you assume my partner would give out the wrong information? Because we are black? After the officer issued our warning. He continued to walk into the park asking 1 or 2 persons for their dog permit. One person had it and the other didn't -- he DID NOT write a warning for the other (white) person without the proper permit. We were targeted and racially discriminated against. A white man witnessed the entire ordeal and offered to write a statement if we decided to write a complaint....

This is the biggest dog park I’ve seen. There must bigger ones somewhere, but are they designated as dog parks? A wide variety of people come bringing a wide variety of dogs. For the most part everyone gets along. If your dog is vicious there will be pressure on you. Occasionally New Rochelle attempts to enforce the permit law, but this is not common and it wasn’t worked out well for the town politically - this is one of the reasons that the rest of Ward Acres (the surrounding city park) is not in very good shape. Nice benches in the park. The dog park has a big variety of trees crabapple, black cherry, Elm, Bitter-nut Hickory, Ash, and some Kentucky Coffee Trees. The latter grow out almost horizontally due to the invasive vines that previously dominated the field. There is also a functioning faucet to dogs drinking water from mid Spring to mid Fall - and usually there are even spare dog bowls people have left for that purpose. People/city leave bags to pick up poop. Relax, wear your mask, sit on bench, and strike up a conversation while your dog plays. There is usually enough wind on the hill to disseminate breath very quickly so COVID risk...

Nice idea, but beware the dreaded and airheaded “dog walker” who brings 4-8 dogs that no one person could possibly watch. Why they don’t do more to disallow these people, I don’t know.

Just this morning some dogs were fighting and someone yelled “There’s a lot of blood on the ground!” There were over twelve dogs and only two people anywhere nearby. Then some guy, who presumably owned some of the dogs, sauntered over asking “Which dog was hurt?”

A few days ago I heard a woman shrieking at the top of her lungs after another dog fight, but I did not see what happened or whether any dogs were seriously injured.

There is a “Small Dogs” enclosure in a back corner with its own entrance that you can access without having to walk through the main park – if you have a small dog it could be a perfect situation for you.

But basically, if you decide to come here, watch...