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NB Dog Park in Sight

After a few months' delay, North Branford is a step closer to unleashing the town's first dog park. A site walk is being planned for next week to lay out the fence line that will enclose the free-roam dog park on about two-thirds of an acre on the town's Swajchuk (former Augur Farm) property on Route 22. The Town Council approved the location in January.

The town is developing the park with a big assist from non-profit North Branford Unleashed. The grassroots citizen's group formed up three years ago and successfully met the Town Council's request to raise $10,000 independently to get the park started. The group has agreed to provide fencing that town will install to set up the park perimeter, and other items needed and desired for the park will be added as money and materials permit.

North Branford Unleashed founder Dr. Eric Hodgson, MD confirmed for Zip06 that he is setting up a meeting to walk the site next week with representatives from the Parks and Recreation Department and the town's Public Works Department.  Hodgson said he was delayed slightly in coordinating North Branford Unleashed's participation in the site walk due to recent work demands, but now is available and "...eager to make this a reality."

Parks and Recreation Director Lauren Munro told Zip06 that the town departments are ready to get the project moving forward as soon as Hodgson is available.  

While a target date for opening the park has yet to be announced, "...we just need to mark it out and get the fence up and it's there. We'll need to have signs made with rules and regulations that will be posted." said Munro.

North Branford's Dog Park will be situated on grassy field with a rise behind a town-owned barn at 298 Forest Road. The property is at the edge of the town-owned Swajchuk parcel and is within site of the town's Public Works Department.

Once fencing is installed, other items, such as benches, can be added as funding or donations of materials become available through the efforts of North Branford Unleashed.