History of Nunziato Field Dog Run
Brock Parker reported in the Somerville Journal yesterday ("Planning office gets changed") that
OHCD [Office of Housing and Community Development] director James Kostaras said Tuesday that he is planning to reorganize and rename OHCD in an effort to streamline the department and underline its emphasis on economic development. . . .Under Kostaras' plan, OHCD would be renamed as the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development.
Since 2001, OHCD has been investigating "the feasibility and implications of creating a dog run along the Summer Street side of Nunziato Field."
At the Regular Meeting of the Board of Aldermen on October 25, 2001 the Board adopted an order by Alderman James V. McCallum (Ward 4),
That OCHD create a dog run along the Summer Street side of Nunziato Field and post appropriate signs. [Board Order #170236 (see the 2001 Minutes of the Board of Aldermen)]
Stephen M. Post, who was executive director of OHCD at the time, responded to Board Order #170236 in a letter to the Board of Alderman dated December 12, 2001 and placed on file at City Hall. In his letter, Post wrote:
Sherri Geldersma, Director of Open Space and Parks, will investigate the feasibility and implications of creating a dog run along the Summer Street side of Nunziato Field, and she, or another member of my staff, will return our findings to the Honorable Board. [File #170467 Communication from City Officer, OHCD Director Responding to #170236 re: a dog run at Nunziato Field (The letter is a public document; City Clerk, John Long, graciously provided a copy. Receipt of Post's letter is recorded in the minutes to the Regular Meeting of the Board of Alderman on December 13, 2001.)]
At the Regular Meeting of the Board of Aldermen on February 13, 2003--just over one year and some personnel changes later-- the Board of Aldermen adopted the order by Aldermen Thomas F. Taylor (Ward 3), Bruce M. Desmond (At Large), William A. White, Jr. (At Large), Joseph A. Curtatone (At Large), Denise Provost (At Large), and Maryann M. Heuston (Ward 2),
That the Commissioner of Public Works, the Chief of Police and the Director of Housing and Community Development address the continuing issues at Nunziato Field, specifically, locking and unlocking the field at posted times, dog feces, and the lack of a dog run, and report back to this Board within 30 days. This is one of many past requests to resolve these problems. [Board Order #173275 (see the 2003 Minutes of the Board of Aldermen)]
I have spoken with Sherri Geldersma, who will be the Director of Urban Design in the new Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development. Although she will no longer be directly involved in the administration of Parks and Open Spaces, she says she will continue to serve in an advisory capacity to the task force that is being put together by the mayor to consider off-leash options in Somerville.
Somerville dog owners interested in the future of the dog run at Nunziato Field are encouraged to contact their aldermen. To find out who your alderman is, go to My Somerville, and enter your street address.