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Town site may be home for dogs to roam For the past year and a half, the Marshfield Bark Park Committee has struggled to find a home. But committee members are hoping a new location will have tails wagging. Committee members Brad White, Norma Haskins and Sue Traynor met with Selectmen Monday night to discuss plans to relocate their proposed dog park to a two-acre lot of town-owned land on Rockwood Road, located in the planned mixed use development site behind Enterprise Park. The new location is the third being suggested by the committee. Committee members initially had their sights set on a two-acre lot of conservation-owned land off Forest Street, but DPW and the Public Works Board raised concerns that a nearby aquifer could be polluted by dog urine at the proposed site. In March, the committee sought to use 1.5 acres of town-owned land at Harbor Park for use as a dog park. However, abutters to the park raised objection to the idea, stressing that the park was designed as a multi-purpose recreational area for all residents and not for private use of any kind. White said the Rockwood Road site, which was suggested to the committee by Town Administrator John Clifford, addresses all previous concerns from residents. He said the park would be located in such an area that would not threaten town drinking water and that is designed for recreational use. "We're delighted," White said. "We really feel that this is a turn-key, ready to go site." White said the new site lends itself nicely for use as a dog park, given its natural shape and structure in a well-wooded area. In addition to the park itself, White said a smaller, closed-off play area for smaller dogs is also included in the plan, as well as a natural walking trail, picnic tables, ample parking and a donated handicapped access ramp. Committee member Sue Traynor said the group has already raised $3,900 toward starting the park. She said the committee hopes to begin fundraising as soon as possible to get to $50,000 as a steady endowment upon which to get the park up and running. The annual cost for maintaining the park, she said, would come in at about $5,000, where all funds would be raised and spent privately through the committee. As for specific expenses, Traynor said such details would be hard to determine without definite approval of a site by selectmen. "We won't really know exactly what we need to do until we settle on a site," Traynor said. Animal Control officer Norma Haskins said the establishment of a dog park is something Marshfield residents could benefit from. She said the park would offer a safe alternative to bringing animals to the beach. "We need a place where dogs can be taken off their leashes and allowed to run without fear of them or anyone else getting hurt," Haskins said. White said the committee plans to charge pet owners a fee of $7.50 per year, where owners would register and secure tags for their dogs through the Animal Control Office. He said the money generated through the fees would go to support such programs as adoption days and rabies clinics that would be held at the park. Selectmen chairman Michael Maresco said the board has already received favorable response to the site from the Planning Board and the Recreation Commission. He recommended that the committee work further with the Planning Board and other town departments to iron out the details of the site plan. Once that is completed, Maresco recommended the committee then work to put together an article for October's special Town Meeting requesting a lease with the town to secure the site for use as a dog park. "I think it's a great idea," Maresco said. "It would make for a good social area for dogs in our community." White said a six-foot fence would surround the park's perimeter. Selectman Patti Epstein voiced concern about how many trees would need to be cut down to make way for the park, but White said the way in which the area is naturally constructed, few trees would be sacrificed for the sake of the park. "Our goal is less is more," White said. While she supported the new location, selectman Katie O'Donnell encouraged the committee to take the time to put together a proper, well-thought-out plan. "If it's good, it can be very good for the town, but if it's bad it can be very bad," O'Donnell said. "It's always good to plan." White said the committee's next step will be to meet with the Public Works Board on July 10. ### Web editor's note: All quotes pertaining to fundraising, park costs and planning were spoken by Brad White. |
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