FAQs

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What is Friends of Green Central Knoll?

Friends of Green Central Knoll is a volunteer-led neighborhood group dedicated to improving and activating our park for everyone in our community. We work closely with NYC Parks, Community Board 4, and local community partners to support safety, stewardship, and collaborative improvements.

HOW DOES THE CURRENT STATE OF THE PARK AFFECT THE COMMUNITY?

Right now the park isn’t being used the way it could be. A lot of the space sits empty because the process to get permits for events or activities is confusing, slow, and for many neighbors just not realistic. If you don’t speak English or you don’t feel comfortable dealing with government offices, the whole system feels like a brick wall.

Because of that, people who would love to use the park like families, local groups, artists, small business owners often don’t even try. So the park ends up feeling quieter, less connected, and less like the community gathering place it should be.

What is the main proposal?

Our current focus is a Designated Dog Run Area — one unified, realistic option to present to Community Board 4 and NYC Parks. The proposal includes:

  • A safe, fenced dog-run zone

  • A community stewardship plan

  • A dog-owner code of conduct

  • A volunteer-led cleanup team

  • A liaison system for reporting issues directly to Parks

Is this only for Athletes or dog owners?

Not at all! This isn’t just for athletes or dog owners — it’s for the whole neighborhood. Families, parents, and non–dog owners are all essential parts of this effort, and everyone benefits when the park is safe, welcoming, and accessible. In fact this very website was made by a cat parent!

Will a dog run take away space used by families or the sports league?

No. We are advocating for a designated dog-run zone in an area that is currently underused since the previous closure. All existing sports and family areas remain untouched. We are also actively speaking with the sports league to ensure their needs are fully respected.

Who have you spoken to so far?

We are connecting with key stakeholders, including:

  • Council Member Jen Gutiérrez’s office

  • NYC Parks staff (including Karley Chamblee)

  • Friends of Irving Square Park

  • Maria Hernandez Dog Run Pack

  • Local families, athletes, and dog owners

These conversations help us understand feasibility, best practices, and strategies for building trust with Parks.

How will you show community support?

We are collecting:

  • Petition signatures (from dog owners and families)

  • Data on dog-owning households

  • Distance to other dog runs

  • Usage data from before the closure

  • Photos and logs documenting current safety issues

This evidence helps strengthen our case before Community Board 4.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

We welcome volunteers of all kinds — friendly neighbors, parents, dog owners, researchers, designers, organizers, and more. Current needs include:

  • Signature collection

  • Research & data gathering

  • Outreach to stakeholders

  • Cleanups and stewardship planning

  • Presentation design

  • Website, social media, and communications

To join us, email FriendsofGreenCentralKnoll@gmail.com or hop into our WhatsApp group.