Jeanne Noonan for New York Daily News
Bugsy’s Dog Run at Astoria Park. Some local dog owners are pushing for renovations at the park but the run’s caretaker has rebuffed offers to chip in.
Local dog owners are pressuring elected leaders and city officials to fix up a beloved but rundown dog park in Astoria.
But theyve run into resistance fr om fellow dog owners and the runs unofficial caretaker. It is also unclear which city agency is responsible for the waterfront property that Bugsys Dog Run sits on.
My goal would be to establish a community-sponsored dog run, said Dan Cain, 33, of Astoria, who is leading the latest charge to renovate the run.
The dog park itself is falling into the river, said Cain, who added he and other dog owners would be willing to chip in for the repairs. Its dirty, its filthy and its unsafe for dogs.
Cain, who has an eight-pound toy fox terrier, said hes afraid his dog could get injured in the rocky run, which is not partitioned into small and large dog sections like most city runs.
But he said some dog owners dont want to make improvements to the run because they fear the city will stop allowing dogs off-leash in the early mornings and late evenings at nearby Astoria Park.
The runs condition wouldnt effect off-leash hours since it isnt on city P arks Department property, an agency official said.
Other dog owners said they worried if enough attention was brought to the poor condition of the run, with its rocky terrain and sloping fences that have gaps in some spots, it would be closed.
Its scary, said one dog owner who asked not to be named because she works for the city. We cant have it taken away, because what are we going to do?
A man who identified himself as Tex is credited with creating the run more than a decade ago.
He refused to answer questions from the Daily News on why he didnt want the dog park to be fixed up as he tidied up the run and picked up the garbage recently.
Other dog owners said Tex becomes agitated when approached about making repairs.
City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) said his hands are tied when it comes to renovating the run.
He said the property is owned by the city Department of Environmental Protection and that at some point a sewer underneath the run is slated for improvement.
The city has so far turned a blind eye to it, because they understand its needed and popular, he said. Im glad theyre allowing it to exist.
A DEP official said the property doesnt appear to be owned by the agency, but officials are still looking into it.
ctrapasso@nydailynews.com
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