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Politics & Government

Dogs Go Wild: Parks and Rec Drafting Dog Park Plans

A Dedham Parks and Recreation commissioner suggested seven possible sites for the park.

Dedham dogs might just get their way.

Dedham Parks and Recreation Commission member Chuck Dello Iacono presented a list of seven possible sites in Dedham that could potentially be used as a dog park:

  • The Striar Property
  • a Rustcraft Road property
  • Dedham Town Forest (near the entrance)
  • Cutler Park

Dello Iacono said to the commission, “This is more like an inventory,” adding that he is not recommending any one property, but intends to create a plan for each property before reporting back to the board. 

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He said he walked each of the properties and, with the exception of Condon Park that he described as having many inclines and having a wooded area, all would make a good dog park

“I don’t know what the next step is,” he said.

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Commissioner Dan Hart threw his support behind the Striar Property and a landfill on East Street.

Commissioners suggested he narrow the list down to three, and draft plans for each.

Dello Iacono also said he plans to run the plans by the town’s environmental coordinator, Virginia LeClair, and the Conversation Commission.

Dedham resident Jeff Gibbons encouraged the board to move this plan forward.  He suggested the town create dog hours, seasons, or allow leashed dogs in the parks. 

“Dog owners are good at policing each other,” Gibbons said. “We have to register our dogs with the town, yet we can’t use the parks.”

Commissioner Jim Maher said the town currently has a bylaw that restricts dogs from using parks. He suggested Gibbons organize the dog owners he knows in order to create motivation.

Dello Iacono said he also believes dog walkers on the street create “a huge safety issue.”

“If they had a place to go, it would be safer,” the commissioner said. 

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