By Mike Berger
A new proposal for not one but two dog parks at the Paul Revere Heritage Site — one large and one small — was unveiled this week during a presentation before the Canton Select Board.
As detailed by Bernie Plante of Canton Holdings LLC, developer of the Heritage Site, and Carolyn Molway of the Friends of the Canton Dog Park, the larger park would be located off Neponset Street along the diversion channel and the smaller one would be located near the George Jenkins Bridge at the entrance to Revolution Way.
The project will need a fourth-fifths vote of the Select Board as part of an amended agreement with Canton Holdings as well as site plan approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The matter was taken under advisement as the Select Board had only three members present, with Mike Loughran and Chris Albert both missing the meeting due to illnesses.
Plante said originally a dog park was proposed on a different lot at the Heritage Site but it was found to be unfeasible due to conservation issues. Other sites around town were considered, but Plante said the new locations are suitable for both Canton Holdings and the Friends of the Canton Dog Park. Both parks would be fenced in, tree lined, and have parking accommodations for users.
Molway said 150 of the 340 members of the Friends group have voiced support for the two-park plan. Molway said entrances to both parks will be controlled by a key fob, and dog owners, both local and out of town residents, would have to submit information on their dog, including proof of vaccination, as well as pay a fee in order to gain entrance. The fee would be higher for non-residents. Molway said dog owners will be responsible for pet waste pickup and offenders could be barred from future use of the park. It is estimated that the larger dog park could handle 20 dogs and the smaller park could handle 15.
The park would be available seven days a week and be open from 7 a.m. to sundown. The Friends group is willing to pay for maintenance costs. Canton Holdings will be installing an irrigation system at both parks.
Patricia McDermott, chair of the Planning Board, stressed the need for proper signage at both parks as well as adequate liability protection. Pat Cohen, a resident of Heritage Site, said both parks are needed for the safety of the residents of the development and the dogs that visit the property.
Select Board members present at the meeting appeared to be receptive to the idea but wanted to see more definitive information on who would be responsible for lawn care and for water costs associated with the irrigation system.
In addition to the dog parks, Plante said the amended agreement between the town and developer also includes provisions for 12 townhouse-style condos to be built on Lot 10 and a coming change of ownership of the residential portion of the site to a resident-staffed board of trustees.
In other news from the December 19 meeting …
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