somerville dog: a weblog

This was the scene at Sheepfold in the Middlesex Fells early this Saturday afternoon. The temperature was around 25° F; the wind was out of the NW at 16 mph, gusting to 24 mph. Not many a public park in New England can boast this kind of usage on a Sunday afternoon in January.

So why does the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation want to end "companionship recreation"¹ in the Sheepfold?

As posted yesterday to the FellsDOG Google Group, Richard Stewart, Fells District Manager, has confirmed that the DCR is planning to create a half-acre dog park at the Fells to the east of the ten-acre Sheepfold.

The DCR has consulted with the Friends of the Fells and the New England Mountain Bike Association; both groups support removing park users with dogs from the ten-acre Sheepfold to a half-acre fenced-in area to the east.

Until now, the DCR has not consulted with the hundreds of Massachusetts residents who enjoy the Fells with their dogs.

Off-leash recreation is a healthy and normal social activity, and it is wrong that Fells park users are criminalized for participating in it. After years of no enforcement of the leash law at the Sheepfold in the Middlesex Fells, a wonderful community of park users has come together to enjoy the benefits of socializing and exercising our dogs off-leash in the ten-acre Sheepfold. Now the DCR is proposing to pen us up in a one-half acre area.

Access to the dog park will be off Rte. 28, about 50 yards beyond the entrance to the Sheepfold: Fire gate #25. This picture is taken from the entrance of the access road looking south: You can see the entrance to I-93 and a mini van waiting to pull out of the Sheepfold access road.

The access road leads to an old bathhouse that will be demolished: a gazebo with picnic tables is proposed in its place.

The width of the proposed dog park is restricted on two sides by ledge:

Ledge, looking to the SW from the bathhouse.

Ledge, to the NE of the bathhouse.

There is long area between the two ledges. Given budget constraints, the proposed plan is to fence in one half acre with the option to extend the length of the area in the future.

To get to the proposed site, take the fire road that heads east (toward I-93) from the lower parking lot at Sheepfold. About 500 feet from the parking lot the fire road comes to a T: go left and you will come to
the old bath house in about another 500 feet.

Fells Dog Owners have requested to meet with Richard Stewart to share their concerns about the plan to restrict off-leash recreation in the Fells to one-half acre. To get involved please join the Fells Dog Owner Group (FellsDOG).

¹Achana, Francis T. "Pet Companionship in Human Outdoor Recreation in Idaho." Outdoor Recreation: A Dog's Life; Your Life (Idaho Parks and Recreation).