SAUGUS — The neighbors of Stocker Playground spoke at the Conservation Commission meeting Tuesday to discuss the Stocker Deed and why a dog park should not be built on the property.
Marie Floramo, Sharon Floramo, Mark Sacco, Julie Morse-Mills, and Michelle Raponi all approached the commission in hopes of discussing the deed and continuing their work to keep Stocker Park as is.
“We respectfully ask the commission to act in defense of Stocker Playground. We all urge you to advocate for the protection of Stocker playground, recognizing its unique and irreplaceable recreational value for children and families, and to advise the town council to uphold deed compliance, ensuring the playground remains a space dedicated to its intended purpose,” Marie Floramo said.
Sacco, a Town Meeting member, said he understands there are two sides to the debate, but he believes the deed, which was created April 1, 1930, should be upheld, leaving the park as one of the few remaining open spaces in town.
“Its preservation is crucial, not just for the committee, not just for the immediate benefit of children, but for the future generation of Saugus residents who deserve access to safe recreational spaces,” he said.
One of the biggest concerns, brought forth by Morse-Mills and Raponi, is that the dog park would cause a disruption to the ecosystem that has formed at Stocker.
“I’m a dog owner. I have two dogs so I get it. However, who is going to monitor this park?” Morse-Mills said. “People do not pick up after themselves.”
When the Saugus River floods, covering Stocker, the waste from the dogs will enter the river and disrupt the ecosystem, Morse-Mills said.
“Saugus River is considered a shellfish tributary because it’s a tidal river … The waste will get into the shellfish beds and choke out the natural wildlife down there,” she said.
Another concern from Morse-Mills was that trenching was done at the park without letting anyone from the Conservation Commission know.
Francis McKinnon, conservation officer, said he also went down and looked at the trenching and was not made aware that it was going to happen and at the moment it was unknown where it came from.
As of right now, the Conservation Commission has not received any filing from those in favor of the dog park and therefore cannot make a specific comment on if it would be an issue. However, the commission assured those at the meeting that for the dog park to be placed at Stocker, it would have to comply not just with the commission’s standards, but the standards and laws from the Department of Environmental Protection.
