To the editor:
The ongoing saga of the proposed dog park at Stocker Street in Saugus continues to unravel in the most predictable — and frustrating — fashion. Just as the Save Stocker residents/abutters group has breathed new life into the long-dormant East Saugus Improvement Association (ESIA), a recent professional survey has exposed a glaring oversight: The proposed dog park encroaches on land at 22 Stocker St., deeded to the ESIA. The ESIA, revitalized by concerned abutters who oppose the project, was never notified about this encroachment — nor were they informed during the filing of the Notice of Intent (NOI) with the Conservation Commission earlier this year. This revelation invalidates the Town’s assurances of due diligence and community buy-in, as the true landowners were left entirely in the dark.
For over five years, this “debacle” has dragged on, spawning multiple lawsuits, endless public hearings, and a torrent of controversy that has pitted neighbors against neighbors — all while producing zero progress beyond ballooning taxpayer costs for legal fees, consultant surveys, and now, shockingly, premature expenses like hiring an additional animal control officer well before the project’s approval. The Town also jumped the gun by commissioning complete design documents for the dog park long before the survey that ultimately flagged the ESIA’s land ownership, further evidence of Saugus’ reckless haste. The Stocker community, a tight-knit group that cherishes this historic playground as a safe haven for children and wildlife adjacent to the flood-prone Saugus River, has borne the brunt of this turmoil. Yet, as always, the Town barreled ahead without securing proper approvals, blithely ignoring the 1930 deed that mandates the land’s perpetual use as a playground.
This pattern of procedural shortcuts reached a new low with the Town’s “unlawful assurance letter,” which falsely claimed that all abutters had been informed and were on board with the proposal — a document I personally flagged and shared with every board member back in February, complete with a pointed question about accountability. Despite the uproar at subsequent meetings, including the Conservation Commission’s unanimous approval in April (riddled with special conditions that now seem moot), the Town pressed on. It’s the classic Saugus playbook: Put the cart firmly before the horse, consequences be damned.
After five grueling years of division, delays, and disregard, one simple question lingers for our elected officials: How many more years will Saugus torment the Stocker Playground community? When will the Town prioritize transparency, respect for deeds and abutters, and fiscal responsibility over a misguided pet project that has already cost taxpayers dearly in lawsuits, premature hires, and unnecessary designs? The residents deserve answers — and action — now.
Sincerely,
Mark Victor Sacco
Saugus
