Central Park Horse Carriage Industry to End by 2028
The City Council plans to phase out horse carriages in Central Park following a deal to improve local visitor safety.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Large Animals
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New York City Council members have reached a deal to end the city's 168-year-old horse carriage industry by June 2028. This move follows a fatal carriage accident in Central Park in June 2026, leading to a planned legislative vote to phase out operations.
Why it matters
The ban aims to enhance safety for the 42 million annual visitors to Central Park and for the horses themselves following safety concerns. This decision marks a significant shift in the city's approach to the long-standing tourist carriage tradition.
The legislation will phase out the 200-person industry completely by June 2028. By April 2027, the city must submit a comprehensive workforce transition plan to the mayor and speaker.
The players
New York City Council
The legislative body for the city responsible for oversight and passage of municipal laws.
Julie Menin
The City Council Speaker who is leading the effort to improve safety standards through the proposed ban.
Central Park Conservancy
The private, non-profit organization that manages the maintenance and operations of Central Park.
The details
The bill mandates an end to issuing new horse carriage licenses and prohibits current operations in the park. As part of the transition, the city must establish a dedicated workforce program to support those affected by the industry closure. A working group will be formed following the passage of the bill to manage the rollout of this transition plan.
Timeline
2007: Initial legislation to ban horse carriages was introduced.
June 17, 2026: A fatal accident occurred involving a carriage.
October 2026: The legislative deal to end the industry was announced.
April 2027: Deadline for the city to submit a workforce transition plan.
June 2028: Final phase-out date for the carriage industry.
The Home Front
The transition marks a departure from traditional urban tourist services toward modern park safety standards. This shift follows years of debate regarding the future of animal-based transport in dense metropolitan areas.
Residents should anticipate changes to traffic patterns and tourist activity within Central Park as the phase-out progresses through 2028. Those interested in the workforce transition status can monitor official City Council meeting agendas for updates on implementation.
The takeaway
The end of the horse carriage industry will permanently reshape the character of Central Park by 2028. Residents should follow the upcoming legislative vote on Thursday for further details on the city's transition timeline.
What happens next
The City Council is scheduled to hold a vote on the legislation this coming Thursday. Following the passage of the bill, a newly formed working group will begin meeting to address the transition process.
Further reading
Learn more about local policies impacting Large Animals in our city.
Live Poll
Should New York City prioritize banning horse carriages despite the job losses for local carriage workers?
