Swampscott dog park proposal gains momentum

SWAMPSCOTT – Members of Swampscott Park for Off-Leash Time (SPOT) said the new policy on dogs on school grounds is sparking interest in the off-leash dog park the group is proposing.Last month the School Committee voted to ban dogs from school property for 30 minutes before school begins to 30 minutes after dismissal on days school is in session.SPOT Chairman Marc Eichler said raising money for a dog park has proven difficult due to the economy and the group hopes the new policy would give their project a much needed boost.”We still need to raise at least $10,000 more in order to get the park up and running,” he said. “Donations had slowed down, but we’re beginning to see renewed interest due to the new town policy. I think people are starting to realize that places where their dog can run are becoming scarcer and a dog park would be a way to offset some of that.”Last fall, the selectmen voted unanimously to approve the project with the caveat that the group come back to the selectmen with an update before breaking ground.The project was conceived by an ad hoc group of residents who have named the project Swampscott Park for Off-Leash Time (SPOT).Eichler said the proposed park would utilize approximately half an acre in Phillips Park in the vicinity of the former Kids Cove playground. Plans call for a five-foot high fence on all four sides and a double gate to prevent dogs from getting out accidentally.Eichler added the project would not cut off public access to the soccer fields located in the rear of Phillips Park.”Some folks are upset because there will always be those few dog owners who do not pick up the waste,” he said. “And I can certainly understand their aggravation with that. It’s irresponsible. But to that point, I should think there would be value in having a park where the problem would be contained, so to say. It would give people and their pets a place to go other than the school grounds.”The group has a fundraiser scheduled at the Tides restaurant in Nahant. Eichler said the restaurant would donate 10 percent of all proceeds from all food sales made on May 10 from 6-9 p.m. to the project.Anyone who would like to make a tax deductible contribution can do so online at www.bigbluespot.org or by sending a donation to SPOT, 87 Salem St., Swampscott, MA 01907.