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Upper West Side residents are raising alarms over a potential safety issue in Riverside Park near West 112th Street, where neighbors say an unknown individual has been spreading harsh spices in areas frequented by dogs, people, and wildlife.
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An anonymous tipster alerted I Love the Upper West Side on Thursday, describing what they called a “developing safety hazard” in the park. According to the tip, for several weeks residents have been reporting sightings of cayenne pepper or red chili powder being deliberately placed on walking paths, fences, and gate handles in the area.Neighbors say the substance appears intended to deter or harm dogs, but its indiscriminate placement has raised broader concerns. The tipster noted that the affected area is regularly used by leashed dogs, parkgoers, and wildlife, and is also near a preschool whose students frequently visit and play in the park.
While multiple 311 complaints have been filed, residents say they have not seen any action taken by the city so far. In response, community members have begun warning each other directly. Within the past day, one resident posted handmade “DANGER” signs on park fences alerting others that the irritant may have spread onto walking paths.
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“The city cannot abandon the park to someone actively trying to harm children and dogs,” our tipster wrote. “Neighbors need to be aware so we can be vigilant, and keep pressure on the city to ensure our public park spaces remain safe.”The issue has also been discussed in a recent Reddit thread on the r/UpperWestSide forum. In the original post, a user described an ongoing situation involving what they characterized as repeated dumping of red chili powder on a section of park lawn.
“There’s an older woman in a building in our neighborhood who absolutely hates dogs, and has recently escalated to dumping red chili powder on a public lawn that’s part of Riverside Park,” the post reads. The user added that the individual allegedly tied a plastic bag around a lawn gate and spread chili powder on both the bag and the ground nearby, potentially exposing dogs, children, and wildlife to the irritant.
At this time, it is unclear who is responsible for the reported actions, and no enforcement action has been publicly announced. Residents say they are continuing to document incidents, warn neighbors, and urge the city to intervene.
ILTUWS has reached out to multiple city agencies for comment and will update this story if more information becomes available.
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