B y M i c h a e l B o l o g n i n o

Our group, made up of local residents ranging in age from 47 to 78, was formed in October 2023 in response to growing interest in a dog park that surfaced during local planning conversations and community surveys. The town government was supportive of the idea but made it clear that any construction or ongoing maintenance would need to be paid for and managed without the use of taxpayer resources. That meant our first and most important task was figuring out how we would fund it.

We discovered that the Stanton Foundation offered grants of up to $ 275,000 for the design and construction of dog parks across Massachusetts. We jumped at the opportunity and rushed to complete the application in just two weeks to meet the early December deadline.

Just after the new year, we learned we’ d received the funding— and that’ s when the real work began.

Without any government or construction experience among us, we set out to learn how to complete a large-scale project in a small town with limited resources— and, inevitably, a bit of bureaucracy. We worked closely with town officials and committees to secure approvals and permits, evaluated townowned sites to find the right location, toured and spoke with leaders of other dog parks to learn from their successes and challenges, and consulted with Dr. Marilynn Glasser, who literally wrote the book on dog parks. We drafted park rules, designed the space with the help of Berkshire Design Group, and kicked off construction with Clark & Sons in June— just a year and a half after our first meeting.

To build awareness and bring the broader community along, we held more than 30 public meetings and hosted a town forum, where we shared the plan and listened to feedback from our neighbors. Like any shared space, dog parks raise questions. Safety, noise, misuse are real and valid concerns. Our research

and experience have shown that shared stewardship is the answer. Clear rules, responsible ownership, and a culture of mutual respect go a long way. A dog park succeeds when people care not only about their own dogs, but about the community they’ re part of. And with that success comes many benefits— both for dogs and for humans.

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, regular, vigorous exercise improves dogs’ overall health and longevity. Well-socialized dogs are less likely to develop behavioral issues or engage in aggressive interactions. A tired dog, as many owners will attest, is a happier dog— and often part of a happier household.

The benefits extend to people, too. Research shows that dog owners who regularly visit dog parks are more likely to meet neighbors, form social ties, and spend time outdoors. For older adults, people with limited mobility, or anyone without a fenced yard, dog parks provide access— not just to space, but to community. They are places where conversation happens naturally, across ages and backgrounds, anchored by a shared love of dogs.