Dedham Selectmen Support Temporary Dog Park

Dog owners moved a step closer to having a dog park to safely walk their pets Thursday evening as Dedham selectmen voted unanimously to support a temporary dog park on Common Street.

The vote, however, came with the stipulation that the Board of Health director Cathy Cardinale sign-off on the plan.

commissioners are seeking to  at the Dolan Center for a 90-day pilot period to gauge best practices and use of a park before it moves forward with a plan for a permanent park at a different location.

"I credit Parks and Recreation for pursuing this - it's something that's been on the town's list for quite some time," selectman Michael Butler said. "I think we have to do [a pilot park], I think we'll learn from it."

The commission had put forth , but hit a roadblock at the Finance Committee - leading them to go the pilot park route.

"I do applaud you for coming up with this alternative on this property," Carmen Dello Iacono told commissioners. "You ran into a wall at FinComm. I heard a lot about it, and I wasn't impressed with the process."

Currently, a vacant field sits atop the property at the Dolan Center - land under control of selectmen, and not registered parkland - and is not permitted for any recreational use.

The temporary park would include wood chips, fencing, benches and waste disposal units - all of which the Parks and Recreation Department has on hand, will be donated or purchased at minimal cost.

Selectman Paul Reynolds pressed the concern of dog waste either entering water supply through stormwater runoff, or staying in the soil, making it a health hazard for children to play on after the pilot program is finished.

"I hope we can figure out all of the health issues," Reynolds said. "I just don't have enough information. Is that just something you can program it and throw kids on there after knowing its pretty high concentrate of dog usage?"

Dog waste contains bacteria and pathogens that can cause health concerns, according to the EPA. Because of this many towns appeal to health departments for clearence. 

Commissioners said they would seek approval from Cardinale before moving forward, but expect no insurmountable issues.

"You took a challenge and found an alternative," board chairman Jim MacDonald said. "I commend the commissioners for coming up with a viable solution."