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Board reviews new park rules signage and temporary dog-park proposal at Heron Pond; legal and capital questions remain
Summary
Staff presented prototypes for park rules signs and a plan for temporary use of Heron Pond fields for off-leash dog activity; residents and selectmen raised concerns about prior warrant-article restrictions, parking and long-term plans for a permanent dog park and bridge access to other recreational areas.
Town staff presented draft park rules signs and placement plans to the Board of Selectmen and sought direction on changes to wording, while members discussed a separate proposal to use the Heron Pond field as a temporary dog area.
Staff said suggested sign text would limit certain sport-specific uses of open fields (for example, prohibiting baseball games except on diamond fields) and would note that vending requires recreation-department permission and a peddler’s license. The board asked staff to simplify the sign language, remove the phrase “office of the selectmen” from the signage and avoid sport-by-sport prohibitions that would prevent casual public use. Board members directed staff to install signage at the most-used parks (Keyes, Kayley and Adams) nearer parking and entrance areas rather than the park road entrances where drivers may not read them.
The meeting also included a significant discussion about the feasibility of using the Heron Pond field as a temporary dog park while a permanent dog-park site (adjacent to Keyes/MCA area) remains under longer-term planning. Residents noted that the five-acre parcel at Heron Pond was established by a warrant article as sports fields; one commenter, Suzanne Fournier, advised the board to check that warrant-language before converting the space even temporarily. Board members and staff flagged concerns about parking capacity, the need for drainage and whether a temporary use would detract from long-term efforts to build a permanent facility. Parks and Recreation and volunteer dog-park organizers will be asked to coordinate next steps and clarify fundraising and capital needs for a permanent solution; town staff will also check whether a warrant-article restriction limits temporary repurposing.
No formal vote was taken on the Heron Pond proposal; the board agreed to ask Parks & Recreation staff and the volunteer dog-park group to provide a plan and cost estimate and to confirm whether legal or warrant restrictions apply to temporary use.
