On Sunday, September 24, 2026, Council Member Julie Won joined local advocates in a protest at the Murray Playground Dog Run in Long Island City, urging NYC Parks to accelerate the site’s reopening after a two‑year shutdown.
The dog run has remained closed since 2024 when testing identified six soil toxins, leading officials to seal the area for health reasons. NYC Parks has overseen the remediation, but a clear timeline for reopening has not been announced.
Protesters assembled outside the fenced perimeter, displaying signs and chanting for a quicker resolution. Won addressed the crowd, highlighting the facility’s role for neighborhood residents who depend on the space for canine recreation and social interaction. She pressed NYC Parks officials present to outline concrete steps and a target date for completing the cleanup.
NYC Parks representatives acknowledged ongoing remediation efforts and reiterated the agency’s duty to ensure the site meets safety standards before reopening. They explained that testing and removal of the identified contaminants have been in progress, but emphasized the need for thorough verification to protect public health.
The closure has forced dog owners throughout Long Island City to travel to other parks for off‑leash activity, a situation advocates say places an undue burden on the community and limits access to safe, designated dog spaces.
The demonstration reflects wider concerns about the speed of environmental remediation in city parks and a call for transparent communication from municipal agencies. Organizers hope the protest will pressure NYC Parks to finalize the cleanup and reopen the Murray Playground Dog Run without further delay.