Yep. It’s supposed to be a quiet place to walk, look at birds, etc* It’s not a place where one should have to deal with unleashed dogs, cyclists, etc.
*Which is kind of funny given the history of The Ramble, but still, it’s what it’s supposed to be today and it’s clearly marked as such.
Thank you for that photo! It adds a lot of important context.
That particular area of the park is especially for birds and bird watchers. Loose dogs frighten the birds. Central Park is no small place and there were plenty of other places to walk the dog with and without a leash.
If she was like a lot of other dog owners I’ve seen, she was hoping poochy would do their business in a brushy/woody place out of arm’s reach so she wouldn’t have to pick up after it.