Around Town

Petitions Seeks Improvements to How Park Dog Area

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A group of Watertown dog owners who use the dog area of Howe Park have started a petition asking for improvements to the facility. Rebeca Kerr, who posted the petition on Change.org, said “We are proposing a few simple solutions to help us have a better area, including expansion of the dog off-leash area, proper maintenance of the facilities, some lights and hopefully a water source.” The petition cites a number of issues that those supporting the petition would like the Town of Watertown to address:

1. The park gets very crowded during peak hours, as the enclosedarea is on the very small side for a city dog park.2. The current surface has not been properly maintained since itsinstallation in 2018, and it is unsanitary and unhealthy for our dogs inthe current state.3. There are no lights in the park, and when it gets dark by 4-5pm,people that normally get there at that time, are having difficultiesnavigating.

Around Town

Filippello Park’s Grove Street Project Adding Green Area, Dog Park & Hard Courts

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Planning for the renovation of the Grove Street entrance to Filippello Park began six years ago, and discussions for what to do with the section of the former Watertown Landfill date back to 1984, so Recreation Department officials are excited to that construction is nearly complete. The area used to be the location of the incinerator at the landfill. While the rest of the land was turned into Filipello Park, the property near Grove Street had largely been paved over and used for parking, basketball courts and, in the winter, the Town’s snow dump. Recently, Recreation Director Peter Centola met with Glenn Howard, project designer from CDM Smith to go over some of the last details in the project. Discussions about how to reinvigorate the area began in 2012, Centola said, and morphed over the years. The Grove Street entrance will have a large dog park, two gazebos, a hard court playing area, and additional parking.

Around Town

Watertown Dog Park Reopens After Completion of Renovations

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The Watertown Recreation Department announced that renovation work at the Howe Dog Park has been completed, and is now open. 

The dog park is located off Pleasant Street on Bacon Street. The Recreation Department sent out the following announcement:
The Howe Dog Park located at 62 Bacon Street is open. Please enjoy our new renovated amenity, but please follow all rules and regulations. Special thanks to our DPW Parks Department for their ongoing support of our recreational facilities. The rules of the dog park, according to the “Responsible Dog Ownership in Watertown” are:
The use of the Watertown Dog Park owned by Watertown is restricted to Watertown residents. The Watertown owned Dog Park is subject to the following rules, which are needed for the safe and lawful enjoyment of Watertown’s open space by everyone:
• Dogs must display current WATERTOWN DOG LICENSE at all times.

Around Town

Watertown Dog Park at Howe Park to be Closed for Renovation

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The dog park at Howe Park will be closed for renovations, the Watertown Recreation Department announced. The dog park, located near the Charles River on Pleasant Street, will be closed for several weeks for resurfacing, said Recreation Director Peter Centola. Follow Watertown Recreation on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Watertownrec) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WatertownRecreationDepartment/) for more information.

Government

Filippello Park Improvement Project Moves Forward, Town Holding Meeting on Closing of Field

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The reconstruction of one section of Filippello Park got the Town Council’s approval, and a meeting will be held the temporary closing of the field on the Grove Street side of the park. On June 26, the Town Council approved borrowing $1,287,000 to fund the renovation of the area near the park entrance off Grove Street. The lowest bid came from Heimlich Landscaping & Construction, which was one of two bids, said Glenn Howard, landscape architect with CDM Smith. Many of the Councilors said they happy to approve the funding for the park improvements, which passed 9-0. “I am really excited about this,” said Councilor Anthony Donato.

Bell Watertown

Apartment Complex on Watertown’s Westside Has Amenities Open to Public

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Tucked away off the road on the far west side of Watertown is a residential complex that offers many amenities found in modern apartment complexes, including some of which that the general public can take advantage. Bell Watertown sits near Waltham Street, across from Gore Place. The community was built in 2014 and when it opened it was known as Alta at the Estate. A few months later, in December 2014, the complex was taken over by Bell Partners, said William Jackson, Community Manager at Bell Watertown. “It’s a family owned and operated company.

Government

Grants Could Pay for Half the Cost of Filipello Park Project, Including Dog Park

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Grants could go a long way toward completing the final piece of Filippello Park, a project that stretches back to the 1980s. The Town Council heard a presentation from project consultant Glenn Howard of CDM Smith for renovating the Grove Street entrance of Filipello Park, which will include a large dog park. The current project first started in 2012, Howard said, and has gone through a handful of versions before reaching the one presented Tuesday night, which has a 27,000 square foot dog park, 16,000 square feet of open space and a basketball and a futsal soccer court. Town Councilors said they liked what they saw in the plan, adding that they appreciate designers and the Recreation Department taking into account the wishes of many groups in town. “This shows every time the Recreation Department and other departments met with the public they were listening,” said Councilor Ken Woodland.

Dog Park

Council to Hear About Changes to Filippello Park, Including Dog Park

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Tuesday’s Town Council meeting will include a presentation about proposed improvements to the Grove Street entrance of Filippello Park, including the addition of a dog park. 

The project has been discussed for four years, and has gone through a number of iterations. The current proposal would cost nearly $1 million, including $325,000 for the dog park and $215,000 for repaving, according to a slideshow to be presented by architects from CDM Smith. The renovations would include:

27,000 square foot dog park
16,000 square feet of informal, passive open space
a basketball court
a futsal court
a picnic area with tables and benches
2 gazebos
four square, hopscotch and chess & checkers tables
handicap accessible parking in the existing parking area
potentially adding parallel parking on the access road

See the entire presentation by clicking here. The Town Council meeting will be begin at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 in the Council Chambers in Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown. See the entire meeting agenda by clicking here.