Above: Rec is pursuing a grant to build a dog park in town. Town Meeting would need to pony up 10% of the cost, by reallocating funds they already approved for studying the field. (image from Rec’s 2022 program guide)
Next week, registered voters will have the opportunity to vote on Article 19, to match funding for building a dog park at Lundblad field on Parkerville Road.
Due to Lundblad field’s location as a former landfill. Recreation needed to verify it would be safe to build a field on the parcel. In 2018, voters approved $75,000 to conduct a study. Based on the conclusion, Recreation Director Tim Davis said they are confident in the integrity of the field membrane.
Now, there is a remaining balance of $46,411 that is attached to the field for the sole purpose of engineering endeavors. The Recreation Commission’s proposal is to re-classify these funds to be used for construction. If approved, the money will be used for the construction of a dog park.
Many surrounding towns have dog parks, or are in the process of building one — including Framingham, Hopkinton, and Northborough. For years, Recreation has heard requests from Southborough residents for one in town. Often people use the school fields for canine comradery, despite some of them having dog restrictions. Looking into building a dog park was one of the goals Recreation was asked to follow up on from the Town’s Master Plan.
The Recreation Department has already received a grant of $25,000 from the Stanton Foundation, a group committed to canine welfare, for the planning of the anticipated park. However, they plan to apply for an additional grant that could provide up to $250,000 more for the completion of the park. The requirements of this grant is a 10% match by the town, which is needed before the application process commences.
Davis hopes to move this process forward swiftly as the grant opportunity would expire at the end of the year.
Using the residual funds that are already allocated for Lundblad field, Davis assures that there will be “no additional ask of the taxpayer” and would prove to be a productive use to funds that would otherwise expire.
The fenced in dog park would only take up about 40% of the field, leaving space to still allow a full-sized natural surfaced soccer field and ADA compliant pathways. (See concept image right.)
Some Town officials questioned whether the project could conflict with a potential building project being researched at Neary School, which abuts the field. Davis has assured that he has been communicating with the district administration and is confident they will avoid any conflict.
This proposal will be voted on at Town Meeting on Saturday, March 23rd, opening at 10:00 am. You can find the meeting details here.
[Editor’s Note: This post was written by new intern, Algonquin junior Maggie Fitzgerald with edits by Beth Melo.]
