Dartmouth dogs dart through new dog park
Zoe plays a game of tag with Buddy. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Rebecca Amaral introduces Oliver Wakefield, who helped name the park. 
Skyla begs the reporter for treats. 
Buddy and Buoy play together. 
Callaway and Daisy meet. 
Three little dogs beg for treats. 
Murphy runs through a tunnel. 
Cooper and Marsha have a sniff. 
Cooper is confused why Zoe is playing under the bench. 
Bentley says hi to the reporter. 
Sawyer poses for a picture. 
What else could a fire hydrant be for?
Who let the dogs in?
The Dog Advisory Work Group cuts the ribbon to open the park. 
Sawyer enjoys some shade. 
Diane Camacho speaks. 
Murphy, looking very dapper for the event. 
Howard Baker-Smith of the Community Preservation Committee welcomes people to the park. 
Select Board Chair Heidi Silva-Brooks welcomes people to the park. 
A dog waits to enjoy the park. 
A doberman smiles at the camera. 
Daisy runs around, excited for the event to start. 
Marsha waiting patiently to enjoy the park. 
Even police dogs showed up!
Zoe plays a game of tag with Buddy. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Rebecca Amaral introduces Oliver Wakefield, who helped name the park.
Skyla begs the reporter for treats.
Buddy and Buoy play together.
Callaway and Daisy meet.
Three little dogs beg for treats.
Murphy runs through a tunnel.
Cooper and Marsha have a sniff.
Cooper is confused why Zoe is playing under the bench.
Bentley says hi to the reporter.
Sawyer poses for a picture.
What else could a fire hydrant be for?
Who let the dogs in?
The Dog Advisory Work Group cuts the ribbon to open the park.
Sawyer enjoys some shade.
Diane Camacho speaks.
Murphy, looking very dapper for the event.
Howard Baker-Smith of the Community Preservation Committee welcomes people to the park.
Select Board Chair Heidi Silva-Brooks welcomes people to the park.
A dog waits to enjoy the park.
A doberman smiles at the camera.
Daisy runs around, excited for the event to start.
Marsha waiting patiently to enjoy the park.
Even police dogs showed up!
Who let the dogs out? The Town of Dartmouth did by giving them a place to play. The Town unveiled the new Barks and Tails Dog Park on Friday, June 5.
“Today is about more than opening a new recreational space, it’s about creating a place where neighbors can gather, friendships can form and our four-legged family members can run, play and enjoy the outdoors in a safe and welcoming environment,” said Select Board Chair Heidi Silva-Brooks.
There was a town-wide name contest, with the name being chosen by Quinn-school student Oliver Wakefield. His mom allowed him to skip school to attend the ribbon cutting.
Wakefield wasn’t the only one in attendance, a number of dogs came to test out the new park. Many dogs ran around, shimmied through tunnels and used the fake fire hydrants in the typical dog manner.
The park was started in 2009, when the Dog Advisory Work Group formed. Though funding was up and down during the years, the park was a “labor of love,” according to group president Diane Camacho.
The project reached its final stage of funding 11 months ago, in July 2025. The project originally got $291,670 in Community Preservation Act funds for the project, but needed an extra $126,830 due to delays and higher construction costs. The overall project was about $400,000.
“We all continued to believe in the project and persevere despite the various setbacks that we faced,” said Camacho.
There are two sections to the dog park; a small dogs section for dogs under 25 pounds and puppies, and a section for larger dogs.
There is a billboard for town news, specifically dog themed news. There are many benches for the owners located in the shade.
“This park was created for you and your beloved companions,” said Silva-Brooks, “I know it will quickly become a cherished gathering place within our community.”
