The Grand Canal basketball court that was on the northeast corner of Canal and Sixth is schedule to reopen at the end of the summer, but neighbors are petitioning to put a dog run at that spot in place of a court.

The court has been closed since early 2023 for what was supposed to be a two-year MTA construction project to create a new substation for the Eighth Avenue line. (The site is Parks Department property.) The system is also over 100 years old, so the agency is upgrading and rehabbing most of the substations, which convert AC power to DC, as well as adding new ones like this to improve resiliency and reduce the risk of outages.

The MTA told me last week that they are restoring the basketball court and expect it to fully reopen by the end of the summer.  “Parkgoers can look forward to a brand-new court, as well as new fencing, new lighting, a new drinking water station, and new benches,” the spokeswoman said. The new substation should be completed by the end of this year.

BUT WAIT! Just this month I heard from Laura Smith, who is lobbying Community Board 2 and the Parks Department to use the entire space as a dog run instead. Her petition on Change.org is up to 1600 signatures so far. (The map below shows a blue dot for the Grand Canal Court, red dots for dog runs and green dots for basketball courts.)

The petition argues that the court was used by pet owners before construction, and installing a real dog park will better serve residents since there are other courts nearby but not a dog run until you get to Hudson River Park.

“This court is and has been genuinely unused and unmaintained for years, hence it’s already not serving the community,” the petition reads. “Converting it doesn’t take anything away — it transforms an underused asset into an active, valued amenity. A thriving dog park will see far more foot traffic and serve hundreds of households daily than a neglected court.”

Plus, they say, the infrastructure is already there: a flat, paved surface, lighting, fencing, benches and water access.

“Adding new landscaping and AstroTurf would be a nice to have – BUT we’d like to challenge local pet businesses to help sponsor and cover some of those costs,” the petition said. “It’s one of the more cost-effective park improvements the Parks Department can make.”

More TK once the MTA responds.