The Grim Cost Of Indiscriminate Playground Building, Or, The Cult Of The Dog Has Gone Too Far

Is Martin’s Fields in Queens a playground or burial ground? Some disagree:

Would there be a public outcry if people were allowed to walk their dogs in Ground Zero or the Flushing Cemetery?

That’s the question Bayside activist Mandingo Tshaka wants answered after he learned of a petition to allow Flushing residents to walk their dogs on Martins Field, a previously unmarked black and native-American burial ground in Flushing that is due to be dedicated by the city as a memorial park at the end of the month.

“They’re saying their dogs have more rights than the people who are buried there,” said Tshaka, who shares his ancestry with African Americans and native Americans. “They’re saying their dirty dogs can urinate and defecate on hallowed ground. How would they like it if I were to bring my dogs to where their loved ones are buried?”

But resident Tom Budzick, a 66-year-old third generation neighbor of the park, has a hard time believing that Martins Field still contains the remains of black and native Americans. He believes senior citizens in the neighborhood should not have to walk the extra three blocks to Kissena Corridor Park to walk their dogs when Martin’s Field is just outside their doors.

“I want to see a tombstone if you’re going to tell me it’s a memorial,” he said. “I’m sure when they dug up that place, they must’ve found remains then. You think they didn’t take them all out? Now all the sudden, it’s hallowed ground.”

For the last four years, Budzick walked his mixed cocker spaniel-beagle named Cookie in the park until the new signs were put up barring dogs earlier this year. He has gathered roughly 50 petition signatures from other like-minded neighbors.

“It’s fine if they want to call it a memorial,” he said. “Let my dog on the place. We paid for it . . . I consider it a park. It’s a public park that we paid for. If that Indian wants to make it a memorial for his people, we shouldn’t have to pay for it. He should. That’s the way I look at it.”

As to the question whether there are remains in the ground, believe it:

City records show that it had been used as a burial ground prior to 1934, when the city took it over to house a park, playground and a wading pool.

In 1999, a survey conducted by archaeologist Linda Stone determined the grassy fields hid two mass graves underground. City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall secured $2.7 million to construct a perimeter fence and new playground on the north end of the site, while dedicating the field as a burial ground.

Meanwhile, the city hopes that a middle ground can be reached:

Liu, who will be attending the dedication ceremony [October 28] said he is supportive of Tshaka’s stance.

“There are plenty of places that people and dogs can enjoy,” he said. “This is not one of them. We’re not going to have anyone or anything defecate on this hallowed ground.”