SAUGUS — The East Saugus Improvement Association, which received a reboot last month, is continuing to press against the addition of a dog park to Stocker Playground.
Barbara Dewsnap, who has spoken out multiple times on this situation, once again approached the Board of Selectmen to update residents on the proposed dog park.
“On April 16, 2025, the Saugus Conservation Commission approved the notice of intent dated Jan. 27, 2025, for the proposed dog park within Stocker Playground,” Dewsnap said.
She continued that the NOI was appealed by concerned residents who considered the Stocker Playground to be an environmentally sensitive area due to a 200-foot stretch of riverbank, marsh, and wetlands along the Saugus River.
“There was also concern about proposed work in the buffer zones, do not disturb zones, and resource areas within the Stocker Park Playground,” she said.
According to Dewsnap, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Northeast Division, agreed with the residents, and the project is now under review.
The MassDEP Northeast Division has requested that the Town provide a required stormwater management report, which was not submitted with the NOI, according to Dewsnap. The Town is also being asked to file with the Massachusetts Environmental Police Act (MEPA).
“To date, I do not believe the Town has done that according to the MEPA portal,” Dewsnap said.
Once the MassDEP Northeast Division receives the necessary reports, the project can either be approved with a superseding order of conditions or denied.
“With that said, I also want to bring up the matter of the Town of Saugus misrepresenting the property it is utilizing for the proposed dog park within Stocker Playground. According to portions of the notice of intent submitted by the town and its representative engineer, Chris Sparages, of Williams and Sparages, it states that the proposed dog park is limited to 0.64 acres of the 6.35-acre Stocker Playground property,” she said.
Dewsnap notes that other portions of the notice of intent show two other parcels that would be used for the proposed dog park, one of which is part of 22 Stocker St.
“It should be noted that the Town of Saugus does not have right by deed and/or permission or authorization from the owner by deed, the East Saugus Improvement Association, to utilize any part of 22 Stocker Street for any purpose,” she said.
The site plan shows that the proposed dog park would encroach onto 22 Stocker St.
“This matter was brought to the attention of the Town of Saugus, its representative, and its legal counsel, as well as other Town of Saugus boards, commissions, and departments within letters that included a copy of the deed recorded at the Essex South Registry of Deeds in book 3997, page 25,” Dewsnap said.
She continued that the record shows that 22 Stocker St. was granted to the East Saugus Improvement Association.
Regarding her bringing up this issue to the Board, Dewsnap said, “All chose to ignore this matter as well as distance themselves from it. So, to preserve its rights, the East Saugus Improvement Association forwarded a notice and demand to cease and desist encroachment onto property located at 22 Stocker Street,” she said.
The cease-and-desist requested that the Town respond by the Oct. 13 deadline. Town Counsel John Vasapolli mailed a response dated Oct. 16 to the East Saugus Improvement Association and to Dewsnap individually.
She noted that the letter said, “The Town of Saugus is in the process of looking into the issues raised by the notice and demand to cease and desist. … and will respond in further substance in due course upon completion of investigation.”
Dewsnap said the response through Vasapolli was viewed as inadequate and unsatisfactory, given the “more than ample opportunity to look into these issues.”
On Oct. 27, under Massachusetts General Law 187, Chapter 3, the East Saugus Improvement Association served the Town with a notice to prevent the acquisition of rights-of-way and easements, etc. The notice has been recorded at the Essex South Registry of Deeds.
“Recently, it was discovered through a public records request that the Town had a title exam performed by Marsh, Moriarty, Ontell, and Golder related to the proposed dog park. According to the letter from Marsh, Moriarty, (Ontell, and Golder) dated April 23, 2025, addressed to special counsel for the dog park Jesse Schomer, it states that 22 Stocker St. is vested in the East Saugus Improvement Association by virtue of the deed dated June 19, 1953,” she said.
Dewsnap claimed that the Town ignored the information and is still moving forward with the dog park, with a recent public notice placed in the Item for bids on the project.
“With that said, it should also be brought up that the Town of Saugus is not adhering to or implementing required setbacks and zoning regulations,” she said.
Dewsnap noted that it would be impossible for the Town to place a dog park solely on the Stocker Playground property, due to its location near the wetlands.
