Ouch! Mosquitoes Infest Rockaway Freeway Dog Run

By Katie McFadden

Mosquitoes can harm dogs too. According to Tail Waggers Task Force, the Park Stewards for the Rockaway Freeway Dog Run, their beloved dog park is becoming overrun with mosquitoes, and the dogs and their humans are suffering for it.

On Sunday, July 6, Tail Waggers President Fred Rodriguez reached out to area Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers regarding an increasing problem of mosquitos in the park located at 83-02 Beach Channel Drive. This comes despite NYC Parks’ efforts to keep the grass cut and four mosquito magnets in the park. Brooks-Powers responded saying she would have a staffer notify NYC Parks. But then it got worse.

“The mosquito infestation has reached a critical level requiring immediate intervention,” Rodriguez said in a follow up email on Wednesday, July 9. “I personally maintain four mosquito magnets inside this dog park which are great under regular circumstances but are no match for the amount of mosquito in this park at this time,” he said, attaching multiple photos of his own dog, Scoobie, with multiple mosquito bites from being in the park for just ten minutes. “The bites are severe, and this happens each time we visit,” he said.

Rodriguez went on to share other incidents that he’s witnessed. “Yesterday, I witnessed a father entering the park with his 5 to 7-year-old daughter and their pup. After walking in about 30 feet, he realized the mosquitoes were all over them. He grabbed his daughter and ran out of the park as their dog followed. Another couple made it further into the park but lasted only about three minutes before they too ran out, unable to handle the swarm.

“Another couple with their newborn being carried by the father in a kangaroo pouch had to leave immediately after entering the dog park and it broke my heart to witness such a young child have so many mosquitoes land on their face as the father tried to protect them swatting off the mosquitoes over and over off his child’s face and legs. Everyone who enters the park without mosquito repellent runs out almost immediately. Even with repellent, you can only last 10-15 minutes before being overwhelmed.

“This is URGENT and needs immediate attention. The Tail Waggers Task Force has an event scheduled for July 19, which we are now seriously considering canceling unless this issue is addressed beforehand as we can only do so much as Park Stewards to help with this situation.”

Rodriguez said he appreciated NYC Parks’ prior efforts, but noted that NYC Parks’ tractor recently broke down, so the maintenance of the grass in the park has stopped. He also cited NYC Parks spraying for poison ivy a few weeks ago, resulting in closing the park for a few days, and suggested that the park be closed again so NYC Parks could spray for mosquitoes.

Rodriguez said he’s made several 311 reports about the issues and is concerned for both the dogs and their owners as it poses a risk for mosquito-borne illnesses, severe allergic reactions and infections from multiple bites, and stress and discomfort to everyone, making the dog park unusable. As a result, Rodriguez said he will no longer be utilizing the park until the issue is properly resolved.

Rodriguez contacted The Rockaway Times to alert other dog owners about the ongoing issue and to urge people to contact Brooks-Powers at SBrooks-Powers@council.nyc.gov and NYC Parks Rockaway Administrator Elizabeth Walsack at Elizabeth.Walsack@parks.nyc.gov to keep pressure on and take action.