A judge should hear the Juniper Park Civic Association’s lawsuit over the enforcement of the leash law in city parks by the end of the month.
A judge in Queens Supreme Court granted the association a show cause order in its suit against the city Department of Parks and Recreation this week. That means without additional legal maneuvering by the city, the court could hear the case by the end of June, civic President Robert Holden said.
The lawsuit was sparked by long standing complaints by the association about loose dogs in Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village. Members say it’s a problem made worse by the Parks Department’s informal policy to not enforce the leash law between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. in parks without a dog run.
The legal action seeks to force the department to enforce the law at all hours. The city health code requires that all dogs be kept on a leash whenever they are in public. Parks Department personnel are authorized to issue tickets when they spot violations.
Civic association officials have also opposed a dog run in the park, saying it would pose a safety and health risk.
The Queens Civic Congress, an umbrella group of 100 civic organizations, voted in March to support the lawsuit.
Holden said the civic expects a ruling in its favor but is prepared to appeal if it loses. “If they don’t agree on this level, we’ll take it to the next level. We know we’re right.”
