Swampscott selectmen give thumbs up to dog park

SWAMPSCOTT – After five years of changing locations and listening to abutters? complaints, Swampscott dog park advocates learned the only thing they need now is a little bit of promotion.At Wednesday?s selectmen meeting, Swampscott Park for Off-Leash Time (SPOT) President Lynne Zabar appeared to present the status of the project to find only support from the board.?I don?t think you need anymore permission,” said Selectman Matt Strauss. “At this point it?s a matter of letting people know it?s coming the best you can.”Selectman Glenn Kessler suggested to the group that they put out literature with information about the park at Phillips Park to be “better neighbors.”?Matt said it well, I think this is long overdue,” said Kessler. “There?s nothing you can do to make everybody like the dog park.”Selectman John Callahan echoed Kessler?s point when he said didn?t know any details about the park such as the operating hours and process of obtaining a tag to the use the park.Zabar said the park would be open everyday, from dawn until dusk. Park members would obtain a “pooch pass” with a $25 annual fee to show the animal is vaccinated. The fee would go to the maintenance of the park. SPOT intends to continue raising money to pay for flowers, a fence and benches to beautify the area.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].