Comments on the attached dog park rendering at Filippello Park

[councilorpalomba]

Folks,

I hope this finds you well.  I am a bit new at using the our google group as I am taking over for Shannon who has done a wonderful job as manager, but who is very busy with work and soon to be or already a new mom!

A lot has happened since the public meeting late last year when the Recreation Dept. revealed a rendering of a dog park (DP) at Filippello Park (FP).  You may recall many folks were very disappointed with the size and location of the dp.  Since that meeting a small Steering Committee, including Deb, Josh, Barbara and myself, have been meeting to discuss next steps with the goal of securing a more suitable dp at FP.  Josh wrote a wonderful letter signed by himself and Deb to the Town Manager review our history and restating our interest in a dp at the entrance of FP, and requesting a meeting to discuss the matter.  Recently Josh and Deb met with the Assistant Town Manager, Steve Magoon, a member of the Community Development and Planning Department and the Animal Control officer.   They were presented a new rendering for a dp at FP.  I have attached a pdf of the rendering.  On the positive side, it is much bigger than the original size,includes a portion of the front of the entrance to FP,and is more centrally located.     On the negative side, it is not in the space at the entrance to FP as we had hoped.

Clearly it is a compromise between what we wanted and what the Conservation Commission wanted.  Also there are many details to figure out, including whether we like the inclusion of a "time out" space and a space for large dogs and a space for small dogs.  There will be peastone gravel, new fencing and shade trees, but still no easily accessible water. 

The Town is planning another PUBLIC MEETING to review and elicit comments on the new rendering, but before they do, they have asked for feedback from the Dog Park Task Force - that's you!  It would be greatly appreciate if you would reply with your thoughts on the attached rendering by the end of Tuesday, 2/16. 

We will keep in touch about the date and time of the next public meeting.  Oh yes, we have thought of a new name - "Friends of Watertown Dog Parks" - do you like?

Many Thanks,

Tony Palomba

781-664-3525

[Councilor Tony Palomba]

Ann,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.  Your comments are very helpful.  There is general consensus that the new design is a great step in the right directions, but we are still working to get the park to be a bit bigger.  Your attendance at the next public meeting will be very important.  

Best,

Tony

On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 10:43 PM, Super Grover <superg...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi Tony,

I meant to mention to you that I thought that this dog park design is much better.  It's much larger, & the new section is a great step forward in sq footage, length & width.  Shape isn't optimal but it's better & I'm not sure what else to do with the area.  No water is unfortunate but if it's just not possible it can still be a great park. 

Time out areas & peastone should be included.

I really like the green gazebo & tables & it will make the park quite inviting for people to visit w/kids & families & it would be great to have a summer music series in the gazebo.

I would be happy to help with this project if you're in need of volunteers.

Anne

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From: councilorpalomba <councilo...@gmail.com>
To: Watertown MA Dogs <waterto...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: watertownd...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2016 11:08 AM
Subject: [Watertown Dog Park News] Comments on the attached dog park rendering at Filippello Park

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Tony Palomba

Councilor At-Large

617-926-8560 - home

781-664-3525 - cell

apal...@watertown-ma.gov

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