Prospect Park geese population killed off

July 13, 2010

I have several issues with regard to developments in Prospect Park of late.

First off, I was appalled to discover that the recent disappearances of geese in the park was a deliberate and calculated act carried out to make “the skies above us safer.” These beautiful creatures were systematically rounded up and “euthanized” – a very repulsive term in my opinion, so that we could instead have the annoying and disturbing low-flying airplanes going by at all hours of the day or night. We are many miles away from JFK or LaGuardia Airports, and I’d much prefer to have the geese back in the park rather than the noise and pollution that these planes create.

My second issue involves the creation of those unsightly and dangerous additional bike paths that were created on the perimeter of Prospect Park. In my opinion they were ill thought-out, and dangerous.

Pedestrians now have to look twice both ways, once for oncoming bike traffic, and again for automobile traffic in order to cross a street where we now have bicyclists who speed by within inches of us, as well as cars that speed by within inches. It never fails whenever we put power in the hands of the incompetent and the out-of-touch, that we as pedestrians and regular people are guaranteed to get the short end of the stick. I have personally seen many near misses between bikers and pedestrians, and I am certain that it is only a matter of time before the bike paths are removed entirely because of this hazard. Either that, or the resulting lawsuits due to collisions to come between bikers and pedestrians will force a re-evaluation of the situation. But by that time, countless taxpayer dollars will have already been spent and wasted I’m sure.

I think it is a ridiculous idea that bicyclists would even need a separate and additional bike path, with the park being less than 50 feet away. In what brain it made sense to spend money in a tight economy on such a frivolous endeavor is beyond me. If anything, bicyclists should be put on a leash. They ride on paths designated for “pedestrians only” within the park, and run amok throughout my area of Park Slope, speeding and weaving dangerously and without compunction on sidewalks through crowds of children and elderly residents. Why this is allowed is beyond comprehension.

I am determined to display my disgust with these two situations in several ways — with my money and with my vote. I will never again donate another penny to the Prospect Park Conservancy, and we can all rest assured that quite a few incumbent politicians are going to have to deal with the
consequences of lending their support to such careless and barbaric actions when elections roll around again this fall.

I will never again write another letter to help restore funds next time there is a short fall, or when these same politicians decide to cut back on any money allocated to the Conservancy. I am very dissatisfied and angry with these recent developments regarding Prospect Park.

I’d like to thank the Prospect Park Conservancy, as well as other agencies involved for helping to destroy what I had always considered a unique park and an urban oasis, both with these bike paths, as well as with destroying the special living creatures that I had always believed were an essential element of that park.

I agree. I believe that perhaps there was a “behind closed doors” debate over which neighborhoods it would be best to fly these planes, and because the central portion of Brooklyn is where Prospect Park is located, politicians assumed no one would disapprove. But they were wrong. And they will find out just how wrong they were come election day.

Hi Nicholas,
Thanks for contacting PETA’s Action Team about this important issue.
To better understand our viewpoint on this issue, please see PETA’s
Humane Goose-Control Solutions manual. After reading this, the best
way to help is to suggest that your city utilizes these solutions! For
steps on taking the law into your own hands, see HelpingAnimals.com,
and here are more tips on living in harmony with wildlife.
Thanks again for your concern on this issue and your compassion!
Sincerely,
PETA’s Action Team
757.622.7382
http://www.helpinganimals.com/pdfs/humane_goose_control.pdf
http://www.helpinganimals.com/res_lobbyLeg.asp
http://www.helpinganimals.com/wildlife_livingWith.asp

Here is Marty’s statement:
“Like many residents of Brooklyn and New York City, I am distraught that the United States Department of Agriculture made the unilateral decision to kill 400 geese in Prospect Park. As a dedicated bird-lover, owner of an African Grey Parrot, and one who, along with my wife, loves watching these beautiful geese flying in their V-formation in the early morning, I have a special place in my heart for our winged companions—and as someone who believes that Prospect Park is the most beautiful urban park in the nation, I know how much joy these beautiful creatures bring to park-goers of all ages. Nobody disputes that birds can have a catastrophic effect on airplanes, as we saw firsthand last year. And obviously, the preservation of human life must take precedence over all other concerns. But from now on, I call on federal officials to make a good faith effort to better communicate with all levels of government before taking such drastic action. Working together, I am confident that government, along with groups like the Audubon Society, can in the future find a way to maximize air safety and control avian populations through methods that do not involve the wholesale slaughter of these beautiful birds.”
Mark Zustovich
Press Secretary
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz