02/03/2022
It’s not going to happen anytime in the near future and that is a shame, but it’s a start.
There was an error in the mention of the FB page. Should have said ’Dogs of Saugus, Ma’
Stocker Park has been identified as a potential site for a town dog park.
In January, the Dog Park Committee held an organizational meeting to begin exploring options for a possible dog park location and funding sources.
Bringing a dog park to town is one of the goals Jeff Cicolini wants to help achieve as a selectman. He noted a Facebook group called Saugus Needs a Dog Park was created that shows there is support in the community for the idea.
“It’s something people are screaming for,” Cicolini said, of establishing a dog park in Saugus.
Committee members are “definitely looking” at Stocker Park as it meets most of the criteria for a dog park, Cicolini said.
The committee discussed the schools that came offline as part of the reconfigured school district to evaluate if they might make a suitable dog park site, Cicolini said.
“We felt they are more intrusive to neighborhoods,” Cicolini said.
The goal, Cicolini stressed, is to establish a dog park with zero impact on taxpayers. He suggested a nonprofit Friends of Saugus Dog Park could do fundraising to keep costs away from the public.
Cicolini said the plan is to secure a grant from the Stanton Foundation to get the dog park off-and-running. The next window to apply for a grant is January 2023, he noted.
If a dog park is established, there are a slew of regulations that must be complied with to mitigate any risk, Cicolini said. He raised the possibility of a lease agreement with the town along the lines of World Series Park that indemnifies the town from any responsibility.
Going forward, Cicolini said the committee plans to meet with Town Manager Scott Crabtree about a dog park.
Additionally, Cicolini said committee members will reach out to individuals involved in the formation of dog parks in neighboring communities for input.
The committee will be expanded to bring on additional members, according to Cicolini.
At some point the committee will appear before the Board of Selectmen to present its plans for a dog park, Cicolini said.
Selectman Debra Panetta said she is in 100% support of a dog park in town. It would be nice to have a local dog park for residents, she emphasized.
“We are always looking for places to bring our dogs outside . . . I’m really excited about this dog park,” Panetta said.
