By Anna Mejorada
With the national election season underway, we thought it prudent to bring another important, more local voting matter to the attention of WSR readers. The Riverside Park Conservancy’s virtual voting is now open to determine this year’s G.O.A.T from the Goatham Class of 2024.
In case you’ve missed the story of the goats: since 2019 (skipping 2020 because of the pandemic), a baaaand (sorry, that tends to happen when writing about this subject) of intrepid nibblers have successfully cleared the slopes of Riverside Park around West 120th Street of poison ivy and invasive weeds, “allowing the human staff to install native understory and large trees, protecting the mature tree canopy,” the Conservancy explains on its website.
This summer, the hard-working goats have been given a new job site at West 143rd Street. Included on the team are two fan favorites from last year, Chico and Mallomar, and a fresh crop of newbies: Charlise, Godiva, Paris, Romeo, and Turbo, all hailing from Green Goats of Rhinebeck, New York.
The additional distance from the Upper West Side didn’t deter this Upper West Sider and her husband, Chris Carlson, from hopping on Citi Bikes and making their way up to enjoy the Goatham Festival, which occurred last Friday when the goats arrived in the city. It also gave us a chance to preview our pick for this year’s G.O.A.T.
And we weren’t the only Upper West Siders who made the trek.
“I think it’s so cool and eco-friendly,” shared Sievel, who came from West 105th Street with her daughter Lucy to admire the goats.
“We came for the goats, and to support the community. Plus, it’s a great thing to do on a Friday,” shared Augie, whose son Jameson, age two and a half, was perched atop his father’s shoulders taking in the scene. The father and son duo ventured north from the West 90s to attend the Goatham event for the second consecutive year.
Some came from even further away.
“I came once before and I wanted to come again to see the goats in person,” shared Julie who traveled for almost an hour via the subway from the Lower East Side.
The weed-eaters are now chomping on fresh terrain and will remain in Riverside Park until September. Their exact departure date depends on…their appetites.
To learn more about the Goatham Class of 2024, purchase Goatham merchandise, and vote for your G.O.A.T, head to the Riverside Park Conservancy’s website.
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Love this. Surely the front runner must be Paris … in a nod to the Olympics?
Mallomar has everything a champion Upper West Side goat needs: A good build, sleek fur, no horns, and a winning attitude. Vote for Mallomar!
I vote for Mallomar because I grew up loving Mallomar cookies.
People bring their KIDS! ahahaha!
Team Godiva…. I heard he’s the brother of Skittles from the first few years of the Riverside goats and Godiva is such a sweet little ham!!
Hooray!!! My favorite time of the year — when those cutie 4-legged creatures come to Riverside Park!!