Concerns have been raised about the amount of horse poop on West Drive in Central Park, with one Upper West Sider expressing frustration over the unsanitary and disrespectful situation. City Councilmember Gale Brewer wrote a letter to the Parks Department on behalf of constituents, calling for better enforcement of rules requiring horse-drawn carriages to clean up after their horses. The Parks Department and Central Park Conservancy both emphasized the importance of following city regulations and preventing horse manure from being left on the roads.

Despite efforts to monitor carriage operators and enforce fines for those who do not clean up after their horses, complaints about horse poop in Central Park are common each spring as the weather warms up. The West Side Rag conducted a survey of horse excretion levels on West Drive and found 14 examples of horse poop along the popular stretch for carriage rides. Some piles were small while others had been flattened out by passing vehicles and sunny conditions, indicating a persistent issue that may require further action to address. The Rag plans to revisit the area in the future to see if there is any improvement in the cleanliness of the roadway.