Government

Latest Plans for Filippello Park Has More Space for a Dog Park

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The latest conceptual drawing of the renovated entrance to Filippello Park with an extended dog park area. The area for a dog park is much larger in the latest version of the plans to renovate the entrance to Filippello Park, and the plan would keep the athletic courts in the area near the driveway. 

Recreation Department Director Peter Centola and the town’s consultant, Glenn Howard of CDM Smith, presented the latest version of the park plan last week during a meeting at Town Hall. The new plan shows a long stretch of land on the south side of the driveway dedicated to dogs. Part of the area would be for large dogs, another section for small dogs, and a “time out” area. Centola said the changes were made after residents commented on the previous version.

Government

First Draft of Filippello Park Renovation Disappoints Council, Residents

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Watertown residents and officials expressed were disappointed by the initial plans for a new dog park a Filippello Park Tuesday. The town got its first look at the preliminary concept plan for the Filippello Park playground located at the Grove Street entrance of the park during a public meeting at Town Hall. Peter Centola, director of Recreation and consultant Glenn Howard of CDM Smith unveiled the plan, which includes a new dog park, two basketball courts, a picnic area, and a large oval green space. Howard said that they were limited in what they could do because they can’t disturb the soil below two feet because parts of the land used to be a landfill, and parts of the site where the basketball courts will be is still used to dump snow during the winter. Councilor Tony Palomba said that the dog park that was presented wasn’t the state of the art dog park the Dog Park Task Force had planned, or that the council had envisioned when if passed a resolution incorporating a dog park be placed at Filippello Park is possible.

Dog Park

Dog Park Group Worried by Preliminary Drawing of Park Redesign

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The town recently released a drawing of plans to renovate the entrance to Filippello Park, but proponents of a dog park did not like one feature – the size of the dog park. The entrance off Grove Street will be renovated after the Watertown Recycling Center moved from there to the westside of town. In December, the Public Works subcommittee voted to place the second town-run dog park at Filippello Park. The first one was built at How Park on Pleasant Street. At Tuesday’s Town Council meeting Deb Whitman, a member of the Watertown Dog Park Task Force expressed her discontent with the proposal.

Government

Public Invited to Share Ideas About Renovation of Filippello Park

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The Grove Street entrance of Filippello Park will be renovated, and town officials want to hear from residents about what they would like to see in the renovated area. A public community meeting to discuss ideas for the renovation of the Grove Street entrance at Filippello Park will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 7-9 p.m. at Town Hall in the Town Council Chambers. Part of the entrance used to be the town’s recycling center, but that has moved to Green River Way on the Westside of town. One of the ideas that has been considered is building a dog park in that section of the park.

Government

Town Officials Looking at Ways to Tame Watertown’s Dog Park

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When Watertown opened its first dog park about two years ago, it was a dream for local dog owners, but a nightmare for residents living near the park. The fenced in area was added to How Park, which sits near the Charles River on Pleasant Street at Bacon Street. Dogs flock there during daylight hours, which means that there is noise and people parking all over the neighborhood, sometimes on the sidewalk. Tuesday night the Town Council’s Human Services subcommittee met to hash out a set of rules and ways to enforce them. Neighbors have complained to the town, but gotten little help.

Government

East Watertown Dog Park Gets Preliminary Approval

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A dog park in East Watertown took a step closer to becoming a reality when the Town Council voted to the include the facility in the new entrance to Filippello Park. The Public Works subcommittee considered three locations, including one at Arsenal Park and one on land owned by the Arsenal Project. They decided to go with the location near Grove Street in Filippello Park (see more details here). East End Councilor Angeline Kounelis said she has some concerns about the location of the dog park in the park. “The Grove Street area of the park is isolated,” Kounelis said.

Dog Park

See Where a Subcommittee Wants to Put an East End Dog Park

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East End dogs could have a place to run and play if the Town Council approves the recommendation of the Public Works subcommittee. Last Wednesday, the subcommittee voted to recommend that a dog park be built at Filippello Park, near the Grove Street entrance. The spot was one of three considered by the subcommittee. The other two were near the Arsenal Project. One was by the tennis courts in Arsenal Park and the other is on land owned by the mall behind the back parking lot.

Around Town

Watertown Has a Second Dog Park!

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Dogs now have a second place to run and play off leash in Watertown, the Recreation Department announced. Watertown residents can take their dogs to the dog park at the Alta at the Estate residential complex on the Westside. The complex is located at 100 Woodview Way, off Waltham Street, in Watertown. It is located across from the Gore Estate. In the spring, Watertown opened its first dog park at Howe Park on Pleasant Street, less than a mile west of Watertown Square.