Ten Somerville dog owners came to the Parks and Open Space Committee meeting Monday evening, March 8, to hear the Aldermen discuss options for off-leash recreation in West Somerville. Ward Six Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, who chairs the committee, stated that off-leash recreation is "a significant unmet need" in West Somerville and expressed a commitment to finding ways to meet it.

Of the five sites that were proposed at the previous meeting of the Committee on February 22, Dilboy Field was discussed at greatest length: The committee voted unanimously for a resolution that the Administration work with the City Solicitor to determine whether the City's control of state-owned land at Dilboy Stadium extends to the particular parcel, approximately 45' x 90', that is under consideration for an off-leash recreational area.

Whether or not the City owns any land on Cedar Street, across the street from the Community Path, was said to be unclear. Carlene Campbell, Director of Community Outreach and liaison to the City's Dog Owners Task Force, reported that the Assessor's office advised that the property would have to be surveyed to determine its boundaries. Alderman at large Jack Connolly suggested that the City Solicitor, working together with the Registrar of Deeds, could research the tax title for the property, which might indicate whether the City owns any land at the site.

Campbell reported that because soil along the Community Path has been found to be contaminated with arsenic, before any park construction could begin along the Community Path, it would be necessary to do soil tests, property surveys and, most likely, soil removal. The two prospective sites on the Community Path to which these concerns pertain are at Cedar Street and at Willow Avenue.

The proposed site at Powder House Square is owned by Tufts University, according to Campbell.

A resident who lives on Broadway commented that there is a paved lot adjacent to the old Powder House Community School and asked if there was any chance of situating an off-leash recreational area there. Alderman Gewirtz responded that, because the School is on the border of Ward Six in Ward Seven, many of her constituents are concerned about the future of the site. She wants the site to be developed for community use that will be determined by the community. Ward Seven Alderman Robert Trane spoke specifically of the importance of creating public open space at the site. Trane recalled that there used to be significant open space nearby where the parking lot for the Tufts Administration Building now is. "You don't sell off your best assets," he said.

Also on the agenda was an update from the Director of Strategic Planning and Community Development on the development of the open space on Quincy Street. Arn Franzen, Director of Parks and Open Space reported that the property is eligible for funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The City is preparing a Request for Proposals and hopes to hire a landscape architect for the project in May. Community Meetings for the project will begin around the same time.

The Parks and Open Space Committee comprises Ward Six Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, Ward Two Alderman Maryann Heuston and Ward Five Alderman Sean O'Donovan. In addition to the three members of the committee, Alderman Trane and Alderman Connolly, Alderman at large Bruce Desmond also attended the meeting.