"A Significant Unmet Need"

Ten Somerville dog owners came to the Parks and Open Space Committee meeting Monday evening, March 8, to hear the Aldermen discuss options for off-leash recreation in West Somerville. Ward Six Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, who chairs the committee, stated that off-leash recreation is "a significant unmet need" in West Somerville and expressed a commitment to finding ways to meet it.

Of the five sites that were proposed at the previous meeting of the Committee on February 22, Dilboy Field was discussed at greatest length: The committee voted unanimously for a resolution that the Administration work with the City Solicitor to determine whether the City's control of state-owned land at Dilboy Stadium extends to the particular parcel, approximately 45' x 90', that is under consideration for an off-leash recreational area.

Whether or not the City owns any land on Cedar Street, across the street from the Community Path, was said to be unclear. Carlene Campbell, Director of Community Outreach and liaison to the City's Dog Owners Task Force, reported that the Assessor's office advised that the property would have to be surveyed to determine its boundaries. Alderman at large Jack Connolly suggested that the City Solicitor, working together with the Registrar of Deeds, could research the tax title for the property, which might indicate whether the City owns any land at the site.

Campbell reported that because soil along the Community Path has been found to be contaminated with arsenic, before any park construction could begin along the Community Path, it would be necessary to do soil tests, property surveys and, most likely, soil removal. The two prospective sites on the Community Path to which these concerns pertain are at Cedar Street and at Willow Avenue.

The proposed site at Powder House Square is owned by Tufts University, according to Campbell.

A resident who lives on Broadway commented that there is a paved lot adjacent to the old Powder House Community School and asked if there was any chance of situating an off-leash recreational area there. Alderman Gewirtz responded that, because the School is on the border of Ward Six in Ward Seven, many of her constituents are concerned about the future of the site. She wants the site to be developed for community use that will be determined by the community. Ward Seven Alderman Robert Trane spoke specifically of the importance of creating public open space at the site. Trane recalled that there used to be significant open space nearby where the parking lot for the Tufts Administration Building now is. "You don't sell off your best assets," he said.

Also on the agenda was an update from the Director of Strategic Planning and Community Development on the development of the open space on Quincy Street. Arn Franzen, Director of Parks and Open Space reported that the property is eligible for funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The City is preparing a Request for Proposals and hopes to hire a landscape architect for the project in May. Community Meetings for the project will begin around the same time.

The Parks and Open Space Committee comprises Ward Six Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, Ward Two Alderman Maryann Heuston and Ward Five Alderman Sean O'Donovan. In addition to the three members of the committee, Alderman Trane and Alderman Connolly, Alderman at large Bruce Desmond also attended the meeting.

Another Great Day for Dog Training

At least eighteen dogs and their owners participated in City Dog Training's third free Recall Clinic on March 7 in Perry Park. The clinics, co-sponsored by the Somerville Dog Owners Group and the Somerville Youth and Recreation Commission, are held in different parks around the CIty every other month or so.

Gail Merriam brought her daughter and their dog, Chester, a Labrador Retriever, to Perry Park for the clinic. Justin Aucoin, one of the trainers at City Dog Training, taught them to play the "Get it!" game to teach Chester to come when called.

Playing the "Get It!" Game

Bryan Prentice has Brandi, his Doberman Pinscher, on a long training lead. Bryan tosses a treat away from himself and tells Brandi to "Get It!" To get the treat, Brandi has to move away from her owner.

Chris Silva and Lexi Dew are playing the "Get It!" game with Madison, their Dachshund mix, too. After Maddie "gets it"—goes away from him to retrieve her treat—Chris calls her name. When Maddie comes to him, he rewards her with another treat.

In Canine Obedience, training the ability to call your dog and get an immediate response at all times is known as "recall". A reliable recall can save your dogs life and help prevent your pet from jumping up on others in the event that your dog does get away from you.

The clinic at Perry Park was City Dog Training's third free Recall Clinic in Somerville. Previous clinics were held in Nunziato Field (November 2009) and in Powder House Park (January 2010). The next free Recall Clinic is scheduled for May 2 in the Ed Leathers Community Park on Walnut Street, between Medford Street and Pearl Street.

Possible Locations for Off-Leash Recreation in West Somerville

UPDATE 03/05010: The Parks and Open Space Meeting on Monday, March 8, will begin at 7:30.

Please come to the next meeting of the Open Space and Recreation Committee, Monday evening, March 8, at 7:30 at City Hall on the second floor.

At the meeting the Committee, comprising Ward Six Alderman, Rebekah Gewirtz (chair), Ward Two Alderman, Maryann Heuston, and Ward Five Alderman Sean O'Donovan, will consider five possible sites for off-leash recreation area in West Somerville:

1. Adjacent to the Community Path on the east side of Cedar Street


2. Adjacent to the Community Path on the west side of Cedar Street


3. Adjacent to the Community Path at Willow Avenue


4. Near Powderhouse Circle


5. Near Dilboy Field

Fourteen Somerville dog owners came to the last Open Space and Recreation Committee meeting on February 22: We need the continued interest and support of dog owners to keep off-leash recreation in West Somerville on the fast track!

Free Recall Clinic at Perry Park - March 7

In canine obedience training the ability to call your dog and get an immediate response at all times is known as "recall". At City Dog Training's recall clinics, dog owner learn to play the "Get it!" Game with their pets to teach them to in a fun and positive way to come when called.

Andrew McLaughlin works with Churchill, a Cairn Terrier, on a long training lead, at the Free Recall Clinic with City Dog Training at Powder House Park on January 17, 2010.

This will be the third free Recall clinic offered by City Dog Training. The clinics are co-sponsored by the Somerville Dog Owner Group and the Somerville Recreation and Youth Department.

Please check citydogtraining.com for cancellation information in case of inclement weather.

Parks and Open Space Committee Discusses Off-Leash Recreation

Thank you to the fourteen Somerville Dog owners who came to the Parks and Open Space Committee meeting Monday evening, February 22, to hear the committee discuss options for an off-leash recreational area in West Somerville! Great turnout! There were real exciting developments for off-leash recreation in West Somerville! The City will be revisiting two proposed sites for off-leash recreational areas along the Community Path, at Cedar Street and at Willow Avenue. Mark your calendar: The Committee will reconvene on March 8 at which time, Carlene Campbell, Director of Community Relations and the City's liaison to the Dog Owners Task Force, will have found out whether the City owns any land at three additional sites that were discussed, one each in ward five, ward six and ward seven.

Ward six Alderman, Rebekah Gewirtz, who chairs the committee, and ward two Alderman, Maryann Heuston, who is one of the other two members of the committee, were present. Ward four Alderman, Walter Pero, also attended.

Campbell reviewed the City's previous efforts to propose an off-leash recreational area (OLRA) at one of three locations along the Community Path (at Cedar Street in ward five, at Lexington Park on the border of ward five and ward six, and at Willow Avenue in ward six). These locations were proposed to the community at a public meeting in May 2006. The community meeting in May 2006 was contentious, and, as Alderman Gewirtz observed, the site adjacent to Lexington Park was especially "problematic". The City decided, for the time being to look for possible locations for off-leash recreational areas in other neighborhoods. "It's okay," Campbell said "to leave a project for a little while and to come back to it."

Since 2006, the City has opened an OLRA at the Ed Leathers Community Park, and construction will begin this Spring on an OLRA at Zero New Washington Street—both in East Somerville. Alderman Heuston, observed that 2006 was "a long time ago." Acknowledging "issues" at Lexington Park, Alderman Heuston suggested that the City go back to the community with the proposals for the Cedar Street and Willow Avenue locations.

The Hodgkins-Curtin Park renovation and strategies for increasing green space were also on the agenda for the Meeting.

The Committee discussed the significance of the name of Hodgkins-Curtin Park and of ensuring both that plaques memorializing Donald Curtin are preserved in the park and that that the name of the park is retained through the renovation process.

The committee received a status update from the Administration regarding its four strategies for increasing green space: 1) Acquiring land owned by the Commonwealth, 2) Purchasing property, 3) Zoning, and 4) Making existing parks more green.