Riverside Park Goats Return to Delight Kids and Families

The adorable herd returns to keep the park looking nice for all who visit

By Barbara Russo June 28, 2022

The Riverside Park goats are back and ready to work! These summer associates will return on Wednesday to resume their seasonal landscaping positions to help the park look beautiful and well manicured for all who visit.

This is the third year that the Riverside Park Conservancy has hosted the goats as part of its “Goatham” initiative. Now, these fun farm animals won't be using lawn mowers, hedge clippers or anything like that of course. They'll be using tools a little more natural to keep the greenery looking nice—their teeth! They'll snack on invasive and overgrown plants to keep the grounds looking nice (and enjoy a tasty treat while doing it).

Riverside Park’s goats are like a new herd of full-time professional weeding staff. They are able to traverse difficult, hard-to-reach places and can also gulp down poison ivy without a second thought. This frees up human hands – and significant amounts of time – to work on other components of restoration.

Riverside Park will host a welcoming reception for the goats called the “Running of the Goats” at 120 Street and Riverside Drive on Wednesday, June 29, at 11am. Get your goat on—the event is free and open to the public!

The guests of honor at the event will be Skittles, Cheech, Big 'G' and Elenor—the four goats staying for the summer. But 16 of their goat friends will attend the party, too, so you'll see lots of adorable running goats.

“The conservancy looks forward to celebrating the goats’ return at the Running of the Goats,” John Herrold, interim president & CEO of Riverside Park Conservancy, said. “We know how much joy the goats brought parkgoers in 2019 and 2021, and we cannot wait for them to get to work consuming weeds.”

Can't make it to the Running of the Goats? That's ok! People can watch the park's four goat workers all summer long. The best place to watch them work is between 119-122 Streets in the park. It's best to go during daylight hours because they end their shift at around 6-7pm. After work, staff bring them to an indoor shelter where they relax and unwind.

Some of the species of plants that have proven most difficult to control in the park are porcelain berry, English ivy, mugwort, multiflora rose, and several others. The goats help control invasive plant species in a sustainable, pesticide-free way. They really are a tremendous help for the staff!

By the way, check out the fluffy flock of sheep at Governors Island, too. You'll get to see more fun farm animals at work keeping parks looking nice!

What You Need to Know About Seeing the Goats at Riverside Park

Where is Riverside Park located?

Riverside Park is located at Riverside Drive to Hudson River, W. 72 Street to W 153 Street.

Where is the best location to see the goats?

The best place to watch them work is between 119-122 Streets in the park.

When can I see the goats work?

You can see the goats at work during daylight hours. It's best to go before 6pm.
For more information, visit riversideparknyc.org or follow the park on Facebook or Instagram.

Main image courtesy Riverside Park Conservancy