A Dog Park Debate

Town set to unveil plans about a potential site in the area of Stocker Playground next Monday night, but neighbors who abut the site oppose the plan

By Mark E. Vogler

Richard Lavoie – a teacher, a former Town Meeting member and a devout dog lover – recently has been calling on fellow dog owners to turn out for a “Community Update Forum” set for Monday (April 29) about potential plans to locate a dog park in the area of the Stocker Playground. “The Town Manager and a Landscape architect/Civil engineer will be present to discuss where we are in the process,” Lavoie said on his “Dogs of Saugus, Ma. Facebook” about the meeting, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the second floor auditorium at Town Hall.

“When I first started this page, over five years ago, it was with the intent of seeing a Dog Park, accessible to all, built in Saugus. I hope that many of you will be able to attend the meeting and hear more about the plan. It would be great to see a lot of support for the potential Dog Park,” he said.

But Precinct 3 Town Meeting Member Mark Sacco isn’t in favor of a dog park being sited in a neighborhood he represents bordering the park. Sacco, one of 13 new Town Meeting members elected last fall, has initiated a petition drive on the website change.org to protect the interests of residents who oppose the park. He said he already has 20 signatures.

In-light of the commotion initiated by an idea of installing a new dog park in lieu of the Historic Stocker Playground (ball courts), the abutters of said playground have started a petition for a new Saugus Playground Governance By-Law,” the petition begins.

“We as residents, believe it is essential to have a voice in decisions that directly impact our neighborhoods and the well-being of our families. Currently, there is a lack of formal representation or consultation process for those residing in close proximity to these playgrounds,” he said.

“We believe that by granting abutters a rightful say in the future of Saugus Town Owned Playgrounds, we can ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the entire community and that the unique perspectives and concerns of those living nearby are taken into account,” the petition said.

In addition, there is a flier circulating in the neighborhood and across town, urging residents to “stand up for Stocker Park.” “Frederick Stocker Park is a historical gem, designated for perpetual use as a children’s playground. It’s our responsibility to maintain this legacy for future generations,” the flier declared.

“Recent surveys prioritizing a dog park over more open spaces raise concerns. The process lacked inclusivity, neglecting input from local residents and park users,” it said.

Board of Selectman Vice Chair Jeffrey Cicolini, a member of an informal citizen committee that has explored the logistics of locating a dog park in Saugus, defends the committee’s actions. “A dog park being placed in an area where dilapidated tennis and basketball courts have been unusable for decades (except for illegal drug and alcohol use) in no way takes away from our children,” Cicolini wrote in an email to Sacco earlier this month.

“In fact, the 2 ball parks will get much needed improvements/enhancements and the playground equipment will finally be replaced after decades of being in disrepair,” Cicolini said.

“I understand there are concerns of neighbors who abut the area however any location that is owned by the town where a dog park would be proposed would meet similar concerns from abutting neighbors. I am certain the town will hear their concerns and will take them into consideration,” he said.

In the email, which the selectman copied to The Saugus Advocate, Cicolini talked about how he and other citizens began their research: “When the town did the townwide master plan update and surveyed the residents, a dog park was labeled a strong desire. This was also the case when the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager held a town wide community input forum in town hall in early 2020 asking for community input on town projects. There is also a FB page that was created (just as covid hit) by Rick Lavoie, it’s purpose solely was to get a dog park in town. The page has approximately 2,400 members today.

“Because a dog park is a priority for many, we established the committee to research funding options and locations that would meet the criteria for potential grant funding to reduce the tax burden on our residents. Again, the committee was not town sponsored, had zero decision making authority and was comprised of volunteers, which happened to include elected officials, who shared a passion to bring a park to Saugus. The meetings were virtual and were posted. We also invited each of the town meeting members from precinct 3 (in addition to one who sat on the committee) to the meetings, some of which attended various meetings. This was never done in secrecy.”

During “Saugus Over Coffee” – a forum co-sponsored by The Saugus Advocate and the Saugus Public Library last year – Sharon Floramo said she was miffed that town officials would like to see a dog park next door to her Stocker Street home. But she seems to be even more angry that no town officials reached out to her and, apparently, the residents in her small neighborhood overlooking the rundown Stocker Field and adjoining area. “I want to know why they want to put a dog park behind my home,” Floramo said when she got her chance to speak at the lectern in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library on March 13, 2023.

“I requested a meeting with the town, but they denied it,” Floramo said, emphasizing how she believes that officials kept her and a handful of other Stocker Street residents in the dark on possible future plans to build a dog park in the area off Winter Street that encompasses the baseball field and playground nestled near a stretch of the Saugus River that runs through Precinct 3.