Every Sunday morning, as they have been doing for the past several years, dog owners who frequent Ward Acres clean up around 100 DISCARDED BEER CANS, evidently left in the woods after parties in Ward Acres the night before.

Dog owners also diligently pick up their pets’ droppings and maintain a system of garbage bags to reduce litter in the park.

WE LOVE WARD ACRES AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CARE FOR THE PARK.

To be summarily forbidden from Ward Acres for most of the week is a slap in the face to community members who have devoted countless hours to caring for the park and who treasure Ward Acres as an extraordinary public space and a community of friends and nature lovers.

COME VISIT WARD ACRES! You will see that it is a beautiful, pristine natural wilderness that is remarkably free from litter and detritus. Ward Acres has been kept this way AT NO COST TO THE CITY by the very people the City Council intends to exclude.

How is this fair? Shouldn’t the City Council appreciate the actions of these devoted citizens? Do the City Council members even know about the efforts of the Ward Acres community to maintain the park?

Responsible local government should foster community, not squelch it. And responsible local government should reward public service, not dismiss it.

FROM THE SANTARELLI FAMILY: 

We especially love the rambling stone walls at Ward Acres. Our dog Andy loves to run across them (what a contrast to his small cage back at Elmsford where he used to live).  Our personal way of giving back is to try to rescue the walls from the vines that cover and destroy them. When weather permits, we are out there clearing and trying to replace the smaller stones that have come loose. My husband Nick is becoming somewhat of an expert on the history of these walls in Westchester. He has done a lot of reading on the subject.

We believe people who love the park would be willing to volunteer on a more formal basis and to adopt bits and pieces. “Our” wall is along the first path as you enter from Broadfield and walk  straight. We are going to move across to the next wall when the winter is kinder. There are groups that have adopted areas along the Bronx River and who also concentrate on invasive vines. We could do the same.  I am sure lots of people know of the constant work by Jack and Dennis and others who clear, clean and care. I think that people need to know there is a connection between loving dogs and loving our surroundings.