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FRAMINGHAM – Framingham Parks & Recreation Department wants your opinion on a proposed dog park in Framingham, most likely to be constructed near Farm Pond on the southside of the City of Framingham.
The Parks & Recreation department announced a survey for residents to fill out.
SURVEY link: ttps://www.framinghamma.gov/forms.aspx?FID=90
In 2015, the organization FramBark proposed the idea of a dog park, in the then-Town of Framingham.
As the Town, and now the City, was slowed to get on board with the proposal, the organization submitted a petition in 2020 to the City Council, to force the city to take action.
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Since that petition of signatures, the City has been working on the proposed park idea and even identified 5 potential sites in June 2020.
Now, FramBARK, Radner Design Associates, City Council, the Mayor’s office and the City’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Division teamed up to create the first dog park within Framingham.
The goal of this project is to provide residents with a safe, accessible, and enjoyable dog park. Follow along our journey from discussion to development.
The City procured the services of Radner Design Associates to help with site identification, public outreach, design development, and grant support for this project. Radner Design Associates have been involved in other dog parks throughout the area and have been involved with this effort for a number of years.
On October 28, the City hosted a public meeting focused on the potential sites for a dog park and received feedback from the community.
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Residents are encouraged to continue submitting feedback and ideas on a future dog park by sending us an email, parks.recreation@framinghamma.gov. In addition, please feel free to contact our office during regular business hours at 508-532-5960.
About the 5 Proposed Sites
There are several sites the team has reviewed in the past and is currently reviewing that would be well suited for this type of park. We are also using a report generated by FramBARK that reviews possible sites as well. The sites of interest include Temple Street Park, and three locations along Dudley Road at Farm Pond Park. A property along Water Street, not under Parks & Rec jurisdiction, along with several other City facilities reviewed unfortunately did not provide the possibilities that the previous mentioned properties do.There are several priorities used to identify a location which include:
- Proximity to neighbors
- Access (vehicular and pedestrian)
- Providing a minimum .5 acre park
- Water Fountain access
- Safety for park users (humans and dogs)
- Future expansion possibilities
- Shaded area
- Unique location
- Access to trails
- Visibility
- Parking (onsite and close by)
- Additional amenities close by
- Location within the City (easy to get to)
- Several other considerations
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Frambark identified the Stanton Foundation grant, which would pay for 90% of the project costs.
The estimated cost for the dog park is $190,000,
The City’s liability would be $19,000 under the 90% Stanton grant, said Framingham parks & Recreation Director James Snyder.
Again the link to the SURVEY: https://www.framinghamma.gov/forms.aspx?FID=90
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