Riverside Park in New York City is home to a unique summer program that brings in goats to help manage invasive plants. These hardworking animals return each year to a specific, protected area of the park, offering a fascinating spectacle and a helpful service.
Meet the Goats of Riverside Park
Every summer, a special group of goats arrives in Riverside Park. They are brought in to help with an important job: eating plants that aren’t supposed to be there. These plants are called invasive species, and they can take over and harm the native plants that should be growing.
Why Goats for Plant Control
The park has some areas, especially on slopes, that are hard to weed by hand. Invasive plants love these tough spots. In 2019, the people who take care of Riverside Park found a clever solution. They decided to use goats because goats are very good at eating a wide variety of plants, including poison ivy and other stubborn weeds.
The goats spend their days in a fenced-off section of the park called the Forever Wild Woodland. This area is between 119th and 122nd Streets. It’s about two acres in size. The goats munch on plants like English ivy, multiflora rose, porcelain berry, and mugwort. They even eat poison ivy!
The park’s conservancy estimates that these goats can eat up to twenty-five percent of their body weight each day. This constant eating helps to stunt the growth of these invasive plants and stops them from spreading further.
A Festival to Welcome the Goats
To mark their arrival, the park held a special festival. This event happened on July 7th. It included a “ribbon-chewing ceremony” where the ribbon was made of edible materials like mulberry and porcelain berry. This fun celebration shows how much the community looks forward to the goats’ return.
The festival took place at the new 95th Street Compost Compound. The park has also started its own composting initiative there. It was clear that many people were excited to see the goats. Around a thousand people gathered for the event.
Anthony Perez, the Manhattan Borough Park Commissioner, spoke at the ceremony. He shared his thoughts on innovation, saying that sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. He mentioned that we don’t always need complicated technology; the goats can do a great job on their own.
The Goats’ Summer Stay
This summer, four goats will be working in the park: Chico, Mallomar, Cowgirl, and Charlie. Chico and Mallomar have been to Riverside Park before and know the park well. Cowgirl and Charlie are new to the job this year. All of them come from a farm called Green Goats in Rhinebeck, New York. This farm specializes in renting goats for clearing invasive plants.
The goats are expected to stay in the park until sometime in September. As a parent, I always appreciate seeing simple, natural solutions like this being used in our parks. My daughter Emma, who is six, would be fascinated to see them in action. My older daughter, Sofia, who is thirteen, might find it interesting from a science perspective.
It’s important for visitors to know that they should not touch the goats. This is partly because the goats will be eating plants like poison ivy. Also, one of the goats, Chico, has horns. However, if you are interested in getting closer or volunteering, the Riverside Park Conservancy website has information on how you can help.
Volunteers and Their Roles
A team of volunteers helps care for the goats. Heather Stahl and her teenage son, Axel, have been volunteer goat herders for the second year. Their main job is to help bring the goats to their pen each evening. While they don’t think the goats know their names, Axel mentioned that the goats do recognize people.
Heather shared that the goats respond well to kindness and are surprisingly nice animals. She described being with the goats as a “joyful thing to do.” These volunteers play a vital role in making sure the goats are safe and well-cared for during their stay.
A Unique Park Experience
The presence of the goats offers a unique experience for park visitors. It’s a chance to see an innovative approach to park maintenance at work. While my own dog, Finley, seemed more interested in chasing squirrels at the festival, many other visitors were captivated by the goats.
This program highlights how nature itself can be a powerful tool. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most effective solutions are the ones that work with the natural world, not against it. For families visiting New York City in the summer, seeing the goats in Riverside Park could be a memorable and educational part of their trip. It’s a chance to learn about conservation and the environment in a very hands-on, or rather, hoofs-on, way.
Planning Your Visit to Riverside Park
Riverside Park is a beautiful, long park along the Hudson River. It offers many walking trails and areas to explore. The goat program is focused on a specific part of the park, the Forever Wild Woodland, between 119th and 122nd Streets. If you’re planning a visit in the summer months, specifically between July and September, you might be able to see the goats at work.
It’s a good idea to check the Riverside Park Conservancy’s website or social media for the most up-to-date information on the goats’ schedule and any events. While the goats themselves are not to be touched, attending the festival or simply observing them from a distance can be a wonderful experience. Remember to wear comfortable shoes, as parts of the park can feel like a hike. I’m always looking for easy ways to introduce nature study to Emma and Sofia, and this seems like a perfect opportunity.
For those interested in broader city exploration, learning about the various green spaces available is key. You can find more details on outdoor and nature spots in New York City by visiting our New York City park guide.
Beyond the Goats
While the goats are a special summer attraction, Riverside Park itself is worth visiting any time of year. It’s one of Manhattan’s oldest parks and is known for its varied landscape, from open lawns to wooded areas. You can enjoy walking, picnicking, or simply taking in the views of the Hudson River.
The park has several entrances along Riverside Drive, making it accessible from different parts of the Upper West Side. It’s a place where city life slows down, and you can connect with nature. Planning a day here offers a refreshing break from the usual tourist spots.
For families looking for more activities within the city, exploring options like zoos and aquariums can be a hit with younger children. You can find more information on such attractions at our New York City zoos and aquariums guide.
A Sustainable Approach
The use of goats in Riverside Park is a great example of sustainable practices in urban environments. It’s an eco-friendly way to manage invasive species, reducing the need for chemical herbicides. This approach helps maintain the park’s natural beauty and biodiversity for everyone to enjoy.
