MERRIMACK – Watson Park is going to the dogs.

Six years after town residents Harold and Barbara Watson donated the park to the town as a recreational center, local officials are working to honor the couple’s wish to create the town’s first dog park.

The project has been in development for years, but members of the town’s parks and recreation committee are now looking for volunteers from the community to help planning and fundraising for the dog park, as well as a pavilion set to serve as an outdoor classroom.

“From the very beginning, Mr. Watson did express ideas of wanting a dog park. This will honor his wishes,” said Town Councilor Jackie Flood, who represents the board on the parks and recreation committee.

“It’s such a perfect place for (a dog park),” she said, referring to Watson Park, which sits on 12 acres next to the Souhegan River Bridge. “It’s such a nice little alcove, it’ll fit wonderfully.”

Concerned over possible development of the land, the Watsons first purchased the property in the early 2000s. It once hosted the Harcros Chemicals company, as well as a tannery and a chicken-processing plant. And several businesses were lining up to purchase the land when Watson stepped in, immediately deeding the land to the town.

“Merrimack is developing so rapidly that there (wouldn’t) be any place left for a park,” he said at the time.

In the years since, work crews have cleared trees from the park. They have installed a parking area, and local Eagle scouts have added picnic tables, as well as an information kiosk.

“There’s been a lot of work done,” said Sherry Kalish, the town’s parks and recreation director. “Now, we have to honor Mr. Watson’s wish and complete the job.”

To date, park managers have spent upwards of $20,000, including in-kind services, to update the park, and they have about $20,000 in state funds, from a matching grant, to go toward the dog park and the pavilion, Kalish said.

Once the subcommittees are formed, board members will work over the following months to form a development and fundraising plan for both the dog park and the pavilion by the end of 2012.

Once that’s complete, crews could get to work installing both facilities, and they could be open to the public sometime next year, Kalish said.

Interested parties should contact the town parks and recreation department at 6 Baboosic Lake Road or at skalish@merrimacknh.gov.

Organizers are looking to set the committees by Feb. 10.

“I’ve already had two e-mails from people who want to join,” Kalish said Monday. “There’s a lot of interest in this park.”

Jake Berry can be reached at 594-6402 or jberry@nashuatelegraph.com.