Watertown Dog Park Proposal

The first public hearing about off-leash dog park will be held by the Council Subcommittee on Public Works, Tuesday Feb 4 at 7pm., in the Town Hall

Subcommittee Councilors are Cecilia Lenk, Chair, Steve Corbett, and Tony Palomba. If you cannot attend, please contact them via phone or email.

Sustainable Watertown Supports Dog Park at Fillipello by Barbara Ruskin

From Conservation Commission hearing on October 3, 2012

The Dog Park Task Force, a part of Sustainable Watertown, is working to support the creation of an off-leash dog park here. It would be a fine example of a sustainable addition to the vitality, character, and quality of life in Watertown.

Off-leash dog parks have been very successful in surrounding towns and across the nation. The responsible departments in Cambridge and Arlington have given us encouragement and a lot of information and feel that their dog parks have been a great addition. Dog officers believe that dog parks make their jobs easier.

There are all kinds of dog parks, from a simple circle 30' in diameter with a fence and a gate. There are giant ones as well--the Disney of dog parks is said to be in Somerville. Some have benches with cover for owners. One has a time-out space for naughty dogs. The best have a water spigot, doggie bags, posted rules, and a trash can. They can be grassy, or pea stone which seems to be the long term surface of choice with, or without trees for shade.

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Changes in recreation use will be made at Filipello Park because the recycling center (temporarily on a basketball court there) is moving. This is the great opportunity for us to recommend now that Watertown's first Off-Leash Dog Park be designated by the Town for the unused, large, grassy, fenced in area on Grove Street at the entrance to Filipello Park.