The Somerville Dog Owners Group extends a heartfelt "Thank you!" to everyone who has helped turn a vacant lot in East Somerville into a community park with a state-of-the-art off-leash recreation area.

William Roche, Ward One Alderman, identified Zero New Washington Street as a prospective site for a community park and off-leash recreational area in 2005 after former Dell Street resident and visionary, Genevieve Jones, invited him and Alderman Dennis Sullivan on a neighborhood walk to discuss the need for legal options for off-leash recreation.

Mayor Joe Curtatone saved open space in East Somerville in November 2006 when he submitted to the Board of Aldermen (BOA) Finance Committee a revised proposal for the sale of city-owned property at Zero New Washington Street preserving about an acre for public open space. The members of the Committee, Alderman at Large William White, Ward Two Alderman Maryann Heuston and Ward Seven Alderman Robert Trane recommended in favor of the revised proposal, and the entire Board voted to accept it.

Many members of the general public came to meetings of the BOA Finance Committee in 2006 to save public open space in East Somerville.

Hundreds of East Somerville residents signed the petition for parks for people and pets in East Somerville.

Carlene Campbell, Director of Community Outreach, and members of the general public who have participated in meetings of the City's Dog Owners Task Force, especially, Frank Cresta, Justin Grunau, Lisa McFarren, Julie Roix, Steve Roix, Khalid Shakir, Lora Valante, and Marshall Wallace, helping to keep the project moving forward and working with Arn Franzen, Director of Parks and Open Space, and Andrew Leonard of Leonard Design Associates Inc. on design aspects of the park.

We look forward to seeing all of you—and everyone who supports and enjoys public open space—on Saturday, November 20, at the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Community Park and Off-Leash Recreational Area at Zero New Washington Street!