There are just a few more obstacles to clear before dogs have their day in Dartmouth.

Members of the non-profit Dartmouth Dog Advisory Work Group (DDAWG) have said they expect to receive word on a number of bids by June 5 for the construction of a town-owned, 9-plus acre Dartmouth Dog Park at Dartmouth Regional Parks and Trails on Old Fall River Road.

The town has already approved the park, and a private donor has pledged over $213,000 to construct it with another $36,700 coming in in Community Preservation funding. If bids meet expectations, the park could be constructed by the fall.

“It’s key that these bids come back where they need to be,” said Dartmouth Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tim Lancaster. “If everything looks good, we’ll have another meeting (and award bids and begin the construction process).”

Plans for the park, which will be located near the handicapped accessible picnic area at the currently facility, include a fenced-in area consisting of a substance called rice stone that allows for easy filtration.

Only dogs who have received required inoculations will be permitted to the keycard accessible park. Residents will have access to the park and its facilities with a $25 fee available through the Parks and Recreation department.

There will also be agility elements for the dogs such as boulders, benches, and balance beams.

Some excavation will have to take place at the site with about an acre of trees to be removed.

Organizers said the location was chosen because of remoteness and because it was unfit for ball fields due to the hilly nature of the landscape.

“We were really thorough (in the search process) and made sure location was away from populated areas because we wanted to be good neighbors,” said DDAWG organizer Rick Oliveira.

DDAWG representative Diane Camacho said she hopes to eventually have somewhere between 300 and 400 members.

Though the town will own the park, DDAWG has the ability as a non-profit organization to go out and raise money to benefit the park on its own, something they’ve done since the idea came about in 2009.

“It’s been the collaboration and commitment of a lot of people who have a love of their dogs,” said Camacho. “A number of people have come out to support the organizations.”

Oliveira said part of the main focus of the park is to promote responsible dog ownership, hence the required shots and the key card access.

“This is something where there’s accountability,” said Camacho.

With construction on the horizon, organizers said they’re relieved that years of planning are finally coming to fruition.

“It’s been a long haul,” said Camacho. “There are a lot of people waiting, and there are a lot of people that are excited to have an enclosed place specifically for dogs to go.”

For more information on the park, visit DDAWG’s Facebook page.