NEW!! February 20, 2025: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass DOT) has issued our driveway permit. Since the dog park's driveway connects to State Route 27, there are restrictions and requirements for what's done and how it's done. The permit codifies all that, and is necessary for any work to start. Many thanks to Acton's Engineering Department for shepherding that application through!
February 3, 2025: At last! The Town of Acton has accepted a bid from Woodall Construction of Norfolk, MA for construction of our dog park this year! Timeline and additional details are being worked out and we will keep you informed.
What happens next?
What happens next?
- As construction of the Main Street sewer extension wraps up on the site, planning meetings will commence and a construction schedule will be developed.
- The Friends of Acton Community Dog park is planning some exciting fundraisers to cover amenities such as an information kiosk and maintenance equipment. Stay tuned!
- Guidelines for safe use of the park are being developed.
- The ADPC is busy researching and selecting necessary park items such as benches, water fountains, and waste stations.
- We'll be ramping up our Instagram feed once we break ground so you can follow the progress visually.
September 22, 2024: Finally, there is visible progress! The Town’s contractor, Onyx, has begun work on a sewer extension funded in part by a $2.55 million grant from the state’s MassWorks program. This project involves directional drilling under Route 2 to extend the sewer main from Kelley’s Corner to a new pump station, which will support 41 units of affordable senior housing at the future McManus Manor to be located on the former Kennedy Landscaping site. Later this year or early in 2025 the construction of the Acton Community Dog Park will begin on the portion of the property near Route 2. We are getting closer!!!
June 3, 2024: AWESOME NEWS! Acton's amazing leadership team (Select Board, Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager), assisted by the Engineering Department and Economic Development Director, has managed to close the sewer extension funding gap by reducing the project scope and securing additional state funding. This means we can build the park as designed and move quickly to go out to bid in the coming weeks!!! Once a contract is secured, we will have a time frame for the park construction. We will certainly keep you posted.
Great, great news. Thanks to everyone who contributed in any and every way!
Great, great news. Thanks to everyone who contributed in any and every way!
May 8, 2024: Attendees at Acton's Town Meeting approved $100K in CPA funds the dog park on May 7, 2024. These funds will significantly narrow the price gap that has resulted from inflation and other unforeseen costs. Thanks to everyone who attended TM and voted to support. Now we have just one more hurdle to get over... whether the sewer extension will go through (meaning we go out to bid this Spring/Summer) or, if not, there will be another delay. Stay tuned for more updates.... and visit our table at the Goward Playground 10th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, May 11 from 3 - 5 PM to learn more about what's happening and how you can help. Goward Playground is located in Acton Center, behind Acton Memorial Library.
March 28, 2024: Sewer extension shortfall threatens dog park project -- Acton’s Community Dog Park design and construction project has been exhaustively planned to seamlessly coexist with the installation of the Main Street sewer extension, funded by a MassWorks Infrastructure grant. Unfortunately, the sewer construction bids initially received exceed the state monies allotted for that project.
Unless this funding gap can be closed, the Acton Housing Authority will need to utilize a septic system rather than sewers, significantly delaying the dog park construction and possibly threatening its construction altogether due to loss of primary funding from the Stanton Foundation construction grant.
Acton’s Leadership is very supportive of the Acton Community Dog Park, but they have a very difficult situation to resolve. If they can close the funding gap, we expect to go out to bid late Spring or early Summer, 2024, in hopes of building the park this fall. We will post updates when available.
Unless this funding gap can be closed, the Acton Housing Authority will need to utilize a septic system rather than sewers, significantly delaying the dog park construction and possibly threatening its construction altogether due to loss of primary funding from the Stanton Foundation construction grant.
Acton’s Leadership is very supportive of the Acton Community Dog Park, but they have a very difficult situation to resolve. If they can close the funding gap, we expect to go out to bid late Spring or early Summer, 2024, in hopes of building the park this fall. We will post updates when available.
March 21, 2024: Acton's Conservation Commission has approved our Notice of Intent application, which provides the Conservation Commission and MassDEP with a complete and accurate description of the site, including the type and boundaries of resource areas under the Wetlands Protection Act, and the proposed work, including all measures and designs proposed to meet the performance standards described in the Wetlands Protection Act Regulations.
We thank Commission members for their valuable counsel, time and effort. We are getting closer... one step at a time!
We thank Commission members for their valuable counsel, time and effort. We are getting closer... one step at a time!
March 12, 2024: Community Preservation Committee recommends $100K funding for dog park construction. Encouraging News! Acton’s Community Preservation Committee is recommending a $100K funding allocation to support construction of the Acton Community Dog Park. A final vote will take place at Acton’s 2024 Town Meeting, May 6 (and possibly, May 7). Successful passage will enable us to construct the dog park this year! Acton residents -- please make sure you are registered to vote (deadline April 19) and plan to attend and voice your support. We will provide more details when the warrant is posted in April. Note: Community Preservation Act funds are already set aside and will not increase your tax bill.
December 7, 2023: Awaiting Department of Transportation permit and additional funding: Acton's Dog Park Committee is working closely with our designer, the Town's engineering department, and Town management to nail down the final technical details and obtain permits so we can go out to bid this winter. With rising costs, some additional funds will need to be raised, and we have submitted a proposal for Community Preservation Act funds, which will need to be approved by the Community Preservation Committee, the Select Board, and ultimately 2024 Town Meeting. The Friends of Acton Community Dog Park will also continue raising funds through upcoming offers and events. Your ongoing support, input, and patience as we move closer to breaking ground is greatly appreciated.
October 15, 2023: A very successful Oktoberfest. Many thanks to the many supporters who visited us at our Oktoberfest table. We raised awareness AND over $850 for dog park amenities. Stay tuned for more opportunities to support the park while having fun, too!
August 10, 2023: Dog park construction grant awarded! Ground breaking news! The Stanton Foundation has approved Acton's dog park design, "paving the way" for us to go out to bid with a target of breaking ground in Spring, 2024. Our dog park is finally happening!
March 20, 2023: Select Board approves dog park final design. The committee's meetings are now focused on making detailed design decisions such as number and location of benches, styles of water fountains and gate latches, and such. We hope to submit our construction grant application to the Stanton Foundation in early May and go out to bid by Fall, 2023.
November 15, 2022: NEW! Design is proceeding with no need for a leach field. A $2.3 MassWorks Infrastructure Grant recently awarded to the Town of Acton will support the construction of a sewer extension from Kelley's Corner to the Acton Housing Authority's affordable senior housing project at 362 Main Street. This means the dog park, in between the two, can proceed to design and construction without awaiting the construction of a leaching field for the AHA facility. So we'll have a dog park sooner rather than later! The preliminary design below is our working concept. We are currently accepting feedback via our design survey. You can also attend a Dog Park committee meeting, or send the committee an email. For a full understanding of the concept, watch the October 26 design presentation.
October 27, 2022: Acton's Dog Park Committee held a public forum, releasing the dog park's preliminary designs. Feedback received will be considered for upcoming versions of the design. View the Zoom presentation.
October 3, 2022: Mark your calendars for the Dog Park's Public Design Forum , October 26! Acton’s Dog Park Committee, in partnership with Dale Design, Inc., will hold a Public Design Forum on Wednesday, October 26 at 7 PM in Acton Town Hall, Room 204 and over Zoom. This is your opportunity to get a first look at the preliminary design, provide input on the park’s design and features, and to learn about the overarching Main Street Campus initiative. For more information, look for the Dog Park Committee’s 10/26/22 meeting agenda, which will be posted on our town website page no later than October 24th.
March 21, 2022: Great News to Share! The Stanton Foundation has awarded the Town of Acton a Design Grant for our dog park! The $25K check has been received and we can now proceed with selecting a designer and gathering community input. Once designed, the Town of Acton will apply for a Stanton Foundation Construction Grant. Thanks to everyone for the ongoing support.
September 27, 2021: ARPA funds can help move the dog park project forward! Can you make a few clicks to support Acton's Dog Park? Between now and October 13, the public is invited to weigh in on the use of over $7M in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds allocated to the Town of Acton. YOUR VOTE IS NEEDED to support the dog park.
P9 Would construct a sewer main extension to the Acton Housing Authority (AHA) site at 364 Main Street, eliminating our dependency on the AHA's leach field construction, expanding our design options, and accelerating the building of the dog park.
P16 Would provide funds not only for the dog park but for a passive park at 352 Main Street, between the dog park and the AHA development.
P9 Would construct a sewer main extension to the Acton Housing Authority (AHA) site at 364 Main Street, eliminating our dependency on the AHA's leach field construction, expanding our design options, and accelerating the building of the dog park.
P16 Would provide funds not only for the dog park but for a passive park at 352 Main Street, between the dog park and the AHA development.
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This photo of the septic now under construction for the Gates-Douglas school complex illustrates the height of the mound that would be required to contain a septic system for the AHA's development... 8 - 10 feet high, with a dog park on top of it!
The Acton Housing Authority fully supports both the sewer option (ARPA priority 9) and the passive park (ARPA priority 16). Let's preserve and enhance the these Main Street sites with both a dog park and a passive park that can be easily accessed from street level and will provide an attractive first view of Acton for those exiting from Rt. 2. |
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There are three ways you can share feedback:
Thank you!
- You can fill out a brief survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L97ZMYW no later than October 13.
- And/or send an email to the Select Board using the following email address: [email protected], again, no later than October 13.
- Attend one of two more public listening sessions scheduled for October 4th and October 18th, 2021 Select Board meetings, in Acton's Town Hall Room 204 with virtual participation through Zoom. Participation links will be published with the agendas for the Select Board meetings.
Thank you!
September 6, 2021: With site selection at last behind us, the ADPC is now working on the first of two Stanton Foundation grant applications, this one to obtain design funding. Dale Design, Inc. landscape architects for the Hosmer House, is generously donating their services to generate preliminary designs that will support our grant application. Concurrently, the Friends of Acton Community Dog Park are spreading the word and raising funds at various community events. The Friends have raised over $10K to date, 50% of their initial goal. The next scheduled event is the West Acton Village Oktoberfest, September 25th. Stop by and catch up on all the latest; buy a walking dog balloon; meet Parker, our mascot; and enter to win a generous basket of dog supplies.
June 22nd 2021: Acton's Annual Town Meeting approved Article 3 with the $21K in Town Funds for the Stanton Foundation Construction grant match, and voted down the Citizen's Petition that was seeking to block the dog park site - with a vote of 130 to 74.
A big shout-out goes to the awesome members of the Friends of Acton Community Dog Park who worked tirelessly on signs, articles, letters, and publications to raise awareness of the facts at issue. Several local businesses provided products and services with some donating part of costs including Minuteman Press, Loyal Companion and Roche Bros. Town leaders – Select Board Members, our Town Manager and countless committees provided support all along the way, with special thanks and recognition to our (retiring) liaison Joan Gardner.
A big shout-out goes to the awesome members of the Friends of Acton Community Dog Park who worked tirelessly on signs, articles, letters, and publications to raise awareness of the facts at issue. Several local businesses provided products and services with some donating part of costs including Minuteman Press, Loyal Companion and Roche Bros. Town leaders – Select Board Members, our Town Manager and countless committees provided support all along the way, with special thanks and recognition to our (retiring) liaison Joan Gardner.
NEW! June 5, 2021: Both Acton's Select Board and the Finance Committee voted to NOT RECOMMEND Article 17 of the Town Meeting Warrant, a Citizen's Petition which seeks to block funding for the dog park and restart the site selection process. It is now in the hands of Acton voters. Passage of the Citizen's Petition would effectively put an end to the possibility of a dog park in Acton.
May 1, 2021: Acton's Community Preservation Committee did not advance our proposal to use CPA funding to meet Stanton Foundation’s requirement for Town approved matching funds. On the up side, Acton's Select Board and Finance Committee both approved an allocation of $21K in the Town's Capital Budget Plan. Together with our annual ~$4K in proceeds from dog license fees, this allocation will put us over the top in 2021 for the $25K in matching funds we need to apply for Stanton Foundation grants. A group of citizens has placed an article on the Town Meeting Warrant to remove this $21K from the budget and to request that the Town essentially start the location search all over again.
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend Acton's Annual Town Meeting, June 21, starting at 6 PM, to help us defeat this effort and ensure that the dog park can move forward in 2021! Stay tuned for more details.
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend Acton's Annual Town Meeting, June 21, starting at 6 PM, to help us defeat this effort and ensure that the dog park can move forward in 2021! Stay tuned for more details.
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March 7, 2021: Friends of Acton Community Dog Park (FACDP) Launches Fund Drive
Key to moving forward with the Acton's Dog Park project is securing a 10% community contribution towards construction funding. We estimate $250K to build the dog park, so we need to raise $25K before we can apply for Stanton Foundation design and construction grants. FACDP has launched the Acton Sled Dog Race fund drive to help us reach this goal. Can you help us get to the finish line? Visit https://conta.cc/2OyAHby for details! |
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February 23, 2021: Friends of Acton Community Dog Park held its second planning meeting and is ready to launch its first fundraising campaign. The goal is to raise $20K before the end of June, 2021 to support the design, construction, and long-term maintenance of Acton's dog park. The longer-term goal for the Friends is to incorporate as a 501(c)3 organization of dedicated residents and supporters who will assist the Town in maintaining the dog park and surrounding grounds at a high standard of excellence.
The immediate goal of the Friends is to assemble a group of enthusiastic supporters to provide leverage for the grant applications. Community fundraising can help the Town afford items that are not covered by the grants and will demonstrate a level of community-wide interest.
Cathy Fochtman, formerly the Town of Acton's Recreation Director, has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Dog Park Committee's mission since its inception. Cathy is heading up the Friends of the Acton Community Dog Park.
Do you anticipate using the dog park? Become a founding member of the Friends and help make it happen!
Contact Cathy at [email protected] for more information.
The immediate goal of the Friends is to assemble a group of enthusiastic supporters to provide leverage for the grant applications. Community fundraising can help the Town afford items that are not covered by the grants and will demonstrate a level of community-wide interest.
Cathy Fochtman, formerly the Town of Acton's Recreation Director, has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Dog Park Committee's mission since its inception. Cathy is heading up the Friends of the Acton Community Dog Park.
Do you anticipate using the dog park? Become a founding member of the Friends and help make it happen!
Contact Cathy at [email protected] for more information.
February 9, 2021: Acton's Dog Park Committee appeared before the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to defend its application for a grant to cover park design and the community funds required to qualify us for Stanton construction grants. Thank you to all those who logged in to the meeting or sent emails in support of our request. The CPC will begin deliberations some time in March to determine which projects will be brought to Acton's Annual Town Meeting for approval. Letters of support can still be sent to the CPC at [email protected] and copy [email protected]. Thank you!
February 4, 2021: Many are asking when the dog park will be completed. Here is a preliminary schedule, which is all dependent on fundraising efforts, including successful grant applications.
Acton's Board of Selectmen voted on November 16, 2020 to approve the dog park location at 348 Main Street. After three years of effort, we can finally move ahead with fundraising and design planning.
We still face some opposition, but are confident that once our vision is widely communicated, support for the project will grow rapidly.
Thank you to all who wrote emails, attended meetings, and spoke out in support. Stay tuned for more news to follow!
We still face some opposition, but are confident that once our vision is widely communicated, support for the project will grow rapidly.
Thank you to all who wrote emails, attended meetings, and spoke out in support. Stay tuned for more news to follow!
The dog park site vote will now take place during the Board of Selectmen's meeting on MONDAY NOVEMBER 16th. This is from BoS Chair Jon Benson: "The Board deferred for further discussion and a vote on the Main Street dog park site to November 16 to complete an agreement with the Isaac Davis Way neighbors on accommodations. The Board will meet again remotely on Monday, November 16 at 7 PM." We on the Dog Park Committee are cautiously optimistic at this point and appreciate the Board's thorough approach to this complex question, as well as all of the community support we have received. Stay tuned!
Negotiations continued this past week between Acton town officials and abutters to the Main Street parcels, where we propose to locate the dog park along with an open park for all. We are hopeful that things will progress enough for a YES vote from the Board of Selectmen on Monday, November 2nd.
It's never too late to show your support! Email [email protected] and/or attend the Board's meeting. You can find the agenda and meeting link here: https://www.acton-ma.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/13654
It's never too late to show your support! Email [email protected] and/or attend the Board's meeting. You can find the agenda and meeting link here: https://www.acton-ma.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/13654
The October 19 Board of Selectmen's meeting offered some encouragement. The ADPC Chair made his presentation, after which considerable feedback was offered up by the Board and the public. Thanks to all who spoke up in support!
There was a favorable response from the majority of the Selectmen. Chair Jon Benson then offered to meet with concerned neighbors in the coming days.
The final vote is anticipated on Monday, Nov 2 (https://zoom.us/j/503918785). It's not too late to send letters of support to the Board ([email protected]) and we hope supporters will attend this final meeting. Fingers crossed and stay tuned!
There was a favorable response from the majority of the Selectmen. Chair Jon Benson then offered to meet with concerned neighbors in the coming days.
The final vote is anticipated on Monday, Nov 2 (https://zoom.us/j/503918785). It's not too late to send letters of support to the Board ([email protected]) and we hope supporters will attend this final meeting. Fingers crossed and stay tuned!
Review our final report to the Board of Selectmen, with site comparisons and rationale for recommending the Main Street parcels.
October 19, 2020: The Town of Acton's Select Board (aka Board of Selectmen, new title awaiting approval by the Commonwealth) will hold what we anticipate will be the final discussion and critical dog park site selection vote at their 7 PM meeting. NOW IS THE TIME to step up to make Acton’s dog park a reality! WE NEED EVERYONE'S HELP to push this over the finish line.
Select Board meetings are held by Zoom so they are easy to attend by computer or phone. By committing just an hour of your time to attend and participate in the meeting, you can show your support and reaffirm for Board Members that a dog park is both wanted and needed in Acton.
Once the Select Board approves a site, we can immediately start working on grant applications to fund the park.
Select Board meetings are held by Zoom so they are easy to attend by computer or phone. By committing just an hour of your time to attend and participate in the meeting, you can show your support and reaffirm for Board Members that a dog park is both wanted and needed in Acton.
Once the Select Board approves a site, we can immediately start working on grant applications to fund the park.
- The Board’s meeting calendar is available here.
- The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/503918785
September 24, 2020: Acton's Dog Park Committee voted unanimously to recommend the parcels at 348 & 352 Main Street as the site for the dog park, and to ask the Board of Selectmen to vote to allocate that site at their October 19, 2020 meeting. A formal recommendation will go to the Board of Selectmen in early October, outlining our investigations into the four sites the Board asked us to consider, and our rationale for choosing the Main Street parcels above all others. And while no site is perfect, we believe that locating the dog park at this site offers additional benefits to the town that no other site offers – that is, reclaiming and revitalizing an unsightly, unused and otherwise unusable parcel in a way that benefits all of Acton’s citizens – dog owners and non-dog owner alike. We hope readers will agree, and will come out on October 19 to show your support.
August 24, 2020: The Board of Selectmen considered input from the Dog Park Committee and a number of citizens at its meeting. The Board concluded by asking the Dog Park Committee to revisit two previously considered sites, and to add one new site to the mix. The final site options now being vetted are:
- 70 Quarry Road (also under consideration for a pump track)
- Morrison Farm
- School Street playing fields (between Rt 2 and Craig Road)
- 348 & 352 Main Street
August 10, 2020: Board of Selectmen Chair, Jon Benson, reported at the BoS meeting that town administrators had met with nearby neighbors to discuss their concerns regarding the proposed Main Street location of the park. With selection of a site for the dog park now on the BoS’ short term goals for 2020-21, Mr. Benson asked that the ADPC revisit sites previously passed over to ensure that all options have been fully explored
July 28, 2020: The ADPC met with the Acton Housing Authority to outline our vision and reiterate our support for the neighboring AHA project. The AHA appreciated the adjustments made to our plan to date but took no position on the dog park. We will continue to keep them in the loop as we move forward.
July 20, 2020: Acton's Board of Selectmen took steps to move the AHA housing project forward, and abutters agreed to a meeting to discuss the dog park proposal. This is a small but positive step. Thank you to all who wrote letters of support. Keep those cards and letters coming! The link to the 7/20 BoS meeting is here with pertinent dog park discussion at 00:20, 01:30:50 and 03:09:25.
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Bumper stickers now available! Show your support for Acton's Community Dog Park. Each tax deductible $5 donation gets you one 5" round bumper sticker, with all proceeds supporting Acton's future dog park. Get yours now!
July 28, 2020: The ADPC anticipates meeting with the Acton Housing Authority. As the AHA’s planned housing development is our potential future neighbor, we hope to reassure them that a dog park would not disturb their tenants and would in fact offer benefits to the residents. CAN YOU SPARE AN HOUR OF YOUR TIME TO ATTEND THAT MEETING AND VOICE YOUR SUPPORT? Details will be shared as they become available.
June 25, 2020: ADPC meets with nearby neighbors to outline our proposal and listen to their concerns. Unfortunately, little if any progress was made in alleviating their concerns and they are mounting an opposition to the use of the Main Street properties for the dog park. We are continuing to work on creative solutions and are hopeful we can move past this obstacle.
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May 27, 2020: Acton's Transportation Advisory Committee votes unanimously to endorse the Main Street parcels as the site for the dog park. The ADPC commits to working with the TAC during the design phase to make the park as accessible as possible.
May, 2020: Acton's Dog Park Committee announces the creation of this website to keep the public informed about our activities and progress.
November, 2019: Acton's Recreation Commission endorses the selection of Main Street parcels for a future dog park.
