Holliston needs a place for dogs to run
We're asking the town to build a fenced, off-leash dog park on town-owned land. We think it can be paid for with Community Preservation funds and donations rather than the town's operating budget. Add your name to show the town that residents want it.
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Why a dog park
Holliston's field and park regulations prohibit dogs on the grounds of any park, playground, ball field or beach. The one exception is Weston Pond Field, where the town allows dogs off the leash on weekdays from sunrise until 3:30 pm to keep geese off the field. The field is not fenced, and dogs are not allowed there on evenings or weekends.
Medway, Ashland and Hopkinton each have a dog park. Holliston residents who want to use one have to drive to another town.
A fenced park would give dogs a place to run off the leash, away from traffic, playgrounds and ball fields.
Sources: Town of Holliston Field Information and Regulations (dated March 2021) and the town's Weston Pond off-leash policy.
How it gets paid for
We want this park built without adding to the town's operating budget. These are the two sources we are asking the town to consider.
Community Preservation Act
Holliston already collects a 1.5% CPA surcharge, matched in part by the state, and outdoor recreation is one of its permitted uses. Ashland, Acton and Amherst all used CPA money for their dog parks.
Donations and volunteers
A Friends group can raise money from residents and local businesses, and supply volunteers for cleanups once the park is open. Medway's dog park is run this way.
Towns that have done it
| Town | Park | How it was funded | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medway | Off-leash park at Cottage and Village Streets, started in 2002 as an Eagle Scout project | Community-led through a nonprofit, Friends of Medway Dog Park | Donations and volunteers; no taxpayer funds for upkeep |
| Ashland | About half an acre on Memorial Drive, with separate large-dog and small-dog areas; more than $500,000 | About $250,000 in grants and $310,000 in Community Preservation funds | Town resources shared with a nonprofit that fundraises |
| Hopkinton | 22,000 square feet beside the Fruit Street fields, opened in fall 2021; about $400,000 | $250,000 Stanton grant and $150,000 CPA | Not published |
| Acton | Part of the town's Main Street campus; about $394,000 | $250,000 Stanton grant, $25,000 town match, $100,000 CPA, about $40,000 private | About $4,000 a year from dog license fees, plus a Friends group |
| Amherst | 1.5 acres on a capped landfill away from homes; about $347,000 projected | $225,000 Stanton grant, $90,000 CPA, plus town funds | Friends group under an agreement with the town |
| Framingham | Farm Pond, the city's first dog park | Started with a $23,426 Stanton design grant | Parks & Recreation Department |
Figures are from each town's or group's own published materials, linked above. Several of these parks were built with Stanton Foundation grants. That program is no longer accepting proposals, so our plan does not rely on it.
What makes a good location
We are not proposing a specific parcel. Choosing a site is the town's decision. These are the criteria we think matter.
- Town-owned land. It keeps the park public and avoids the cost of buying a site.
- Half an acre or more. Ashland's park is about half an acre. Amherst's is 1.5 acres.
- Distance from homes. Neighbors should not have to hear it. Hopkinton's first proposed site was voted down after neighbors objected. Its park was built on a second site with no properties within 1,000 feet.
- Parking that already exists. Sharing a lot avoids the cost of paving a new one.
- Good drainage. A wet site turns to mud and costs more to maintain.
- Room for two areas. Separate fenced sections for large and small dogs, each with a double-gated entry.
- Away from wetlands and playgrounds.
Questions and concerns
Will this raise my taxes?
The goal is to pay for construction with Community Preservation funds and private donations, not the town's operating budget. CPA money comes from a surcharge Holliston already collects, so using it for the park adds nothing to tax bills.
Who pays for upkeep?
Upkeep means waste bags, trash pickup, surface repair and mowing around the fence. Acton budgets about $4,000 a year for its park, paid from dog license fees. Medway's park is kept up by donations and volunteers, with no taxpayer funds. We would organize volunteers the same way here.
What about noise?
Distance from homes is one of our site criteria for this reason. Hours can also be limited: Ashland's park is open from dawn to dusk.
What about dog waste?
Owners would be required to pick up after their dogs, with bag dispensers and bins at the entrance. Volunteers would do regular cleanups.
Is the town liable if a dog bites someone?
The town's off-leash policy for Weston Pond Field already states that owners are legally responsible and liable for their dogs and any injuries they cause. A dog park would post the same rule. The town's counsel and insurer would review the plan before anything is built.
How is it kept safe?
The town already sets rules for dogs at Weston Pond Field: they must be licensed, inoculated and wearing a collar and ID tag, owners must stay in control of them, and aggressive dogs lose their privileges. We would ask for the same rules at a dog park, plus a fence, separate areas for large and small dogs, and a double gate at each entrance so dogs can't slip out.
Where will it be?
That hasn't been decided. Several town-owned locations could work, and the town will make the choice with public input. See what makes a good location.
Has the town approved this?
Not yet. We are in early conversations with town officials. Any plan would go through the normal public process, including public meetings. Your signature helps show that residents want it.
Who is behind this?
Friends of Holliston Dog Park is a group of Holliston residents. We are volunteers and are not part of town government.
Sign the petition
We, the undersigned, ask the Town of Holliston to work with residents to identify a suitable town-owned site and funding for a fenced, off-leash dog park.
0 neighbors have signed
Only the total number of signatures is shown publicly. We use your address to confirm that signers live in Holliston, and we will share the list of names and streets with town officials when we present the petition. We will never sell your information or publish your email address.
Thank you for signing
Please send this page to a neighbor or two.
Updates and meetings
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Petition launched
Friends of Holliston Dog Park has formed and begun conversations with town officials. Meeting dates will be posted here as they are scheduled.