Dog Park at Grove

[Barbara]

Hi, all, I wonder if we want to meet to get going on some strategy with other groups interested in the space. I hear that it will go before the Conservation Commission soon (and the chair is the one who wants the rose garden and oval of green, I hear. But will check with a member I know).
Looking it over, it really isn’t big enough to be much more than a great off leash dog park, but we might want to coordinate with the Community Gardens people. I can get names if you want to contact anyone(s).
This Recreation Open Forum that I sent earlier http://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15898 lists Filipello (Grove Street) Renovation as an agenda item under Capital Projects. I think someone should be on hand to represent us and take time to speak out in general about what we want and that design should not go forward without DPTF on the committees. Just as a reminder that citizens want in on the planning. That’s what these open forums are for, though just two minutes worth, if that. They shouldn’t be going forward without us.
Barbara

[Deborah Whitman]

Hi Barbara,

 

This sounds like a good idea.  Let's wait until after election day and consult with Tony regarding next steps.

 

Deb

 

 

 lists Filipello (Grove
Street) Renovation as an agenda item under Capital Projects. I think someone
should be on hand to represent us and take time to speak out in general about
what we want and that design should not go forward without DPTF on the
committees. Just as a reminder that citizens want in on the planning. That’s
what these open forums are for, though just two minutes worth, if that. They
shouldn’t be going forward without us.
Barbara	
	

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[councilorpalomba]

Deb and Barbara,

Having a meeting sounds like a good idea.  I have a few ideas to share. What about Monday, November 30th?  Can other members of the Task Force chime in?

Thanks,

tony

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[Barbara]

Nov 30 works for me. I will walk the site this weekend. Peter Centola says the map is misleadingly large and forested. Wacker, the landscaper, says that it is 60 feet at the widest point and about 30’ wide  the rest of the time. It will be built on top of the old tarmac entrance. I should write a summary of the meeting for the Planning, but can’t until Sat afternoon earliest. 

They are totally ignorant of off leash dog parks and are pleased to think that they have accommodated us in this plan.

I think we should meet first and then talk with other groups—if any but recreation remain. There are issues of water with the Commty Gdns people. They are working on the unused courts behind the tennis courts at Arsenal. One thing I mentioned in my comments was how impressive the process of explanation, negotiation, planned field trip to the site together, landscaper encouragement which took at least half an hour at that meeting. Then they were planning to return to continue the conversation. Everyone participated. By the way, the Commty Gdns had architectural drawings to present. gorgeous and impressive.

Why not a similar process with a dog park? I will tell you the scuttlebut, but clearly Angie Kounelis, reelected District A Councilor doesn’t believe in them and the Conservation Comm., particularly the chair, Louise Pallotta-McDermott has had a dream of a formal entrance to Filipello park for 30 years and wants it now. There is a rumor of an antipathy to dog parks. She thinks that having a dog park at all is a compromise they made for us. She seems to be supported by all but one of the members. She emphasized the need for “passive” not active use. Dog park is year round active use.

Only I suggested that there could be grass and beautiful plantings around a state of the art off leash dog park.

Action items: I will try to organize my file of dog parks in other cities. Let’s think of places to visit. Ms Rose was shocked that pea stone is the surface of choice, confirmed by the landscaper, and that large and small dogs can interact happily. We need to work with members to understand. Even Patrick Fairbairn who has other ideas for parking at entrance at Grove St said dogs liked cement surfaces.

Peter Centola at the Rec Open Forum which had Grove St on its agenda said that the DPTF was represented, well, not in person, but our suggestions were noted. At the CC someone said there had been two open meetings at which suggestions were noted—I happened to have my testimony at the first, Oct 3, 2012! Then many of you went to the second, October 6, 2015. Nothing but nudging in between as far as I can tell. Not exactly what we residents have in mind when we talk about process. I returned to the fruitful interactions between the CC and the Commty Garden reps Wed night. Peter Centola said we could have had a meeting with no plan and taken ideas from everyone to put on post its. Then we would have made the plan. The implication being what a waste of time. We came with a plan for everyone to look at. Problem is, it turns out to be the final “preliminary” one that the CC will vote on. 

By the way, Peter said that there will be lights on the dog park since the park is open until ten at night, so dog park has to be lit and there are lights already there.

The CC wrote a letter read at the time since no one had a copy (but a member gave me one), to send to Council and Town Manager. They were prepared to pass it  but instead sent it to the committee to edit and return to Chris Hayward. ‘WThe CC doesn’t have the final vote anyway’ seems to be the refrain. However, they are concerned about comfort of gardeners and want them to be near other people and parking, but won’t discuss with us those issues. You know in a discussion we won’t get all of what we want, most likely. But there is an understanding and an acknowledgement of a variety of positions. No process = not feeling heard and no possibility of change in plans. And, there seems to be a willful interpretation of how unimportant the CC letter will be.

Anni Clark, who happens to be cochair of Trees for Watertown, went to meeting to support the green oval on Grove. Did not mention the organization. She doesn’t have a dog. Said people might be afraid to enter the park if there were dogs at the entrance. Oy vay. I mentioned fencing.

Please, before any meeting we have, to think about how to meet with individuals on the Commission and Chris Hayward. Let’s all walk the site and think of what to do, who to contact, etc.

We have to have someone at every CC meeting as well as keep abreast of anything that concerns this.

Barbara

On Nov 6, 2015, at 6:53 AM, Deborah Whitman <dwh...@aol.com> wrote:

Hi Tony,

 

Thank you for offering a date to meet, I am available Nov 30th.  Could you clarify if you want just the dog park supporters to meet or as Barbara suggested, to include other groups who have interest in the Grove St entrance plans?

 

Many thanks,

 

Deb

 

 

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[Sam Falkoff]

Sorry my night school schedule has kept me from most meetings.

Four local fenced off-leash parks I visit and that seem like good comps for Watertown are

Zero New Washington, Somerville
Thorndike Park, Arlington
Danehy Park, Cambridge
Peters Park, South End

I believe two use pea stone and the other two a larger grade of grey gravel, all have human seating as well as water and some kind of dog recreation built in.  At least three of four also have a separate small dog area and entrance inside a double gate.

Thorndike has a nice round bench around a tree.  Danehy has covered seating for wet weather, and cement pavers only in the bench area.

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[Shannon Sadowski]

Hello, 

I'm afraid I have a work event that night. The firm unfortunately keeps me very busy, even after hours. I definitely still support the park, but I don't know how much I'll be able to be involved in the planning going forward. I try to keep up with reading the emails when I can.

Does anyone have any interest in being the administrator for the Facebook news page? Just so someone that is a bit more involved can update the page.

Shannon Jamieson Sadowski Co-Founder, New Leaf Legal www.newleaflegal.com

 
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[barbara R]

Hi, Shannon, What are you working on these days? Sounds interesting, or at least I hope so. I hope you'll be able to be connected in some way. Does Adam want to stay on board? Thanks for all your work on the groups and thinking at the beginning. Barbara

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[barbara R]

Obviously, I am not the person for social media--I thought I sent that note to Shannon alone. Sorry. Barbara

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