Acton opens long‑planned community dog park after Stanton Foundation grant and local funds

Acton officials and volunteers cut the ribbon on the Acton Community Dog Park at a ceremony that closed a project nearly a decade in the making.

Town Manager John Mangerotti credited a sustained volunteer effort and municipal coordination for getting the park built. "We had the momentum, we had the passion," Mangerotti said, praising the dog park committee and project manager Tom Beijen for shepherding the design and construction. He also thanked town departments including DPW, parks and recreation, planning and community development for their contributions.

Senator Jamie Eldridge presented a Senate citation recognizing the park and its leaders, praising the role of community meeting spaces. "It's been nine years," Eldridge said, calling the finished park "absolutely stunning." He noted use of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds and some ARPA dollars as part of the financing.

Representative Cena said he helped secure targeted state funding for shading. "We were able to secure $25,000 for that and an additional 25 in this budget. So, in a total of $50,000," Representative Cena said, describing an earmark to support shaded areas for the new park.

Organizers said the Stanton Foundation provided a $250,000 construction grant that funded nearly the entire project and had earlier supported design work, allowing the town to avoid relying on general taxpayer funding for construction. Additional support came from local fundraising by the Friends of the Acton Community Dog Park and ARPA allocations identified by the select board and town management.

Tom Galisby, chair of the dog park committee, framed the opening as the product of many volunteers, municipal staff and outside consultants. "It was we, town management and members of the select board… who saw a vision beginning to take shape," Galisby said, thanking designers Dennis Dale (Dale Design) and Michael Gworth (WDA Design Group), contractors including Woodall Construction, and the Stanton Foundation. He closed with a personal note about bringing his dog to the park.

After the speaking program, organizers and officials moved to the gate for the ribbon cutting. "On behalf of the town of Acton and all of our friends and supporters, I declare the Acton Community Dog Park open," the emcee said.

The park opening concludes a long planning and fundraising effort; officials said future work will focus on installing shade structures and ongoing maintenance funded through the mix of grants, town allocations and community fundraising.