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Dog park at Brox?

MILFORD – The group of residents planning a dog park told selectmen Monday night they would like to fence in about a half acre of town-owned land off Perry Road.

The organization has been working with the Recreation Commission to find a site, and last year they talked about using one of the town parks.

But on Monday night Kierstyn Henderson, chairwoman of the Milford Dog Park Association, said a location in the town-owned Brox property would keep it away from children’s sports activities, so there would be “no little fingers coming through the fence.”

A majority of selectmen support the plan, with Chairman Kevin Federico calling the group “by far one of the most organized to come before the board.”

Town officials, however, want more information and want to resolve issues involving road maintenance, the wetlands buffer and insurance.

Jennifer Lemelin, vice chairwoman of the group, said the park would be divided into a large area for large dogs and a smaller area for smaller, older or calmer dogs, with a double-gated entrance that would provide entrance to either area. Blueberry bushes would be planted near the edge of a nearby wetland to filter urine.

In their slide show, they also showed proposed park rules, including hours of operation, dawn until dusk.

Crown Fencing of Amherst gave them a quote of $29,000 for regular galvanized fencing. Other expenses, they said, would be for trash bags and the blueberry plants.

The group now has non-profit status and has raised $2,800 so far, with $32,000 as the goal, said Zachary Williamson, operations director.

The delay means they will have to wait until next year to apply for a grant through the PetSafe company, since they need the town to commit to a location.

After the meeting, Lemelin said they are not disappointed and had anticipated the project to take at least two years anyway.

Henderson said they have more than 500 supporters on their Facebook group.

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