Milford Group Makes Case For Town Dog Park

MILFORD, MA — A new group in Milford is urging the town to consider opening a dog park as pet ownership in the region increases, and with most town parks off-limits to canines.

Friends of Milford Dog Park last week sent a letter to the Parks Commission and Parks and Recreation Administrator James Asam laying out a case for the park. An informal survey conducted by the group found that 61 percent of 186 local resident said they don't have a safe place to exercise a dog.

"As you know, town parks are closed to dogs for good reasons," the letter from residents Brendan Rickert, Bryan Cole and Lauren Wilton said. "However, this lack of safe alternatives results in increased foot (paw) traffic at the Upper Charles River Trail and corresponding dog-related safety complaints (dogs off-leash, discarded waste, etc.) It is these reasons above that we believe it is time to have a dedicated area for dogs."

The letter highlights that the town considered a dog park in 2009, but didn't move ahead because of a lack of open land. The group says it has identified town land that could be used for a park, and has drafted proposed rules to prevent misbehavior and unlicensed dogs from using the proposed facility.

Milford's effort comes as other recent local efforts to either consider dog parks or open new ones.

Framingham is in the process of applying for a grant from the Stanton Foundation to open the city's first sanctioned dog park. Natick opened its first park on September along Route 135, and Ashland is planning a park in a wooded area between Route 135 and the commuter rail station.

Here's the full letter to the town from Friends of Milford Dog Park:

Milford Dog Park Proposal by Neal McNamara on Scribd