Boundary Street, Senior Center among potential dog park locations

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Boundary Street, Senior Center among potential dog park locations
The Senior Center is one of four potential dog park locations. (Photo/Laura Hayes)

NORTHBOROUGH – Local dogs are one step closer to getting a park in Northborough.

Town officials presented four options for a potential dog park during a meeting on Oct. 11, though residents voiced their support for locations on Boundary Street and Bearfoot Road near the Senior Center.

“I’m a dog owner. I’ve been to dog parks. I think it would be great to have one in town,” said resident Nick Cappello.

How Northborough got here

This marked the first community meeting since the project kicked off in September.

During the meeting, Planning Director Laurie Connors noted that efforts to bring a dog park to Northborough date back over 18 years.

“So, this is an exciting time because the dog park is finally on the road to becoming a reality,” Connors said.

During Town Meeting in the spring, voters approved spending $35,000 from the Community Preservation Unreserved Fund to go toward the initial assessment and site survey of up to five locations for a potential dog park.

Northborough hired Weston & Sampson in July to conduct the feasibility study, coordinate a community outreach campaign and prepare a preliminary design and cost estimate for the site determined by the community to be the best fit, Connors said.

Director of the Department of Public Works Scott Charpentier said a team got together and evaluated a “number” of properties owned by the town and eliminated properties that didn’t make sense, such as due to its topography, wetlands, proximity or size.

The four sites identified were on Carriage Hill Road, Boundary Street, Buena Vista Road and Bearfoot Road at the Senior Center.

According to the town’s presentation, the Boundary Street site has the largest amount of space available at 8.6 acres. There would be two acres available at the Senior Center along Bearfoot Road.

Many residents voiced their support for the Boundary Street and Senior Center site.

Residents noted the amount of land available at the Boundary Street site and the potential to have trails. Others said the Bearfoot Road location is more heavily-traveled, and people who use the Senior Center or travel down the road could see what was happening at the park.

However, some residents voiced their concerns about a dog park near the Senior Center, including the effect of noise and smell.

Connors, who had served as the project manager for the Butler Farm Dog Park in Millbury, said they didn’t receive complaints about odor. Among their efforts, there were poop bag dispensers, bins were emptied weekly and there was a dumpster onsite with a cover that was regularly emptied.

Next steps

Charpentier said the goal after the community meeting was to select a site. Then, the town can move forward with the design and development process for the park.

After about 30% of the preliminary design plans are developed, Northborough will hold another community meeting to fine-tune the design features of the dog park. Charpentier projected that 75% of the design would be developed, including construction estimates.

“That will position us well for a [Community Preservation Committee] funding application so that we can go to Town Meeting in 2023 and seek construction funding for the project,” Charpentier said.

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