Opinion: Time is of the essence for Dartmouth dog park

To the editor:

 

For over a decade, dedicated community volunteers have been working tirelessly to bring an off-leash recreational area (OLRA), a dog park, to Dartmouth. Despite numerous setbacks, including funding losses, grant denials, and delays due to the pandemic, the Dartmouth Dog Advisory Work Group (DDAWG-501-c-3 non-profit) has remained steadfast in its mission.

 

Since its formation in 2012, DDAWG has partnered with the Town of Dartmouth to create a safe, designated space for dogs to exercise and socialize. Over the years, volunteers have cleared land, established a temporary dog park, and continuously sought funding to bring this long-awaited project to fruition.

 

While progress has been slow, there have been some significant steps forward. In January 2023, the Conservation Commission approved new design plans for the park, and as of October 2024, construction bid documents have been completed and are under review. CPC and Town Meeting approved funding is set to be withdrawn at the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2025.  Time is of the essence. We encourage town officials to move forward with this project without delay.

 

We urge the town residents, and surrounding community members to support the completion of this project. Our community deserves a permanent, well-maintained off-leash recreation area. The dedication of so many should not be in vain. Let’s ensure that Dartmouth’s dogs—and their owners—finally have a space to enjoy for years to come.

 

Sincerely,
Jana Dupont, Gloria Bancroft, Deborah Cunha, Karen Harb, Joseph DePina and Diane Camacho