A new group, containing community members and town representatives, will work together to help bring about the town's first Dog Park.

The group is forming up after members of non-profit North Branford Unleashed asked the Town Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission for some further help shepherding the process. In 2012, the Town Council approved North Branford Unleashed's request to dedicate at least an acre of space in the Swajchuk property (off Route 22) to the new park. In the time since, North Branford Unleashed met a Council challenge of raising $10,000 towards park installation expenses.

At the September 21 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, North Branford Unleashed leaders Eric Hodgson and Helen Lope de Haro asked the commission to help continue efforts to bring about the park, by effectively putting some more official backing behind it.

"Basically, we came to the realization what we really needed to do was to get an update to everyone and make the next step, the design and fundraising part, really as a function of the town," said Hodgson.

Hodgson said the hope was to form up "... some type of sub-committee (so) we're actually moving forward as an entity of the town. Because right now, the town has approved  the concept, we've gone through our first stage of raising $10,000, which demonstrated interest; and now the next stage is we have to start making it a reality."

Hodgson said having the process formalized would also assist in soliciting and accepting donated park elements and infrastructure, such as fencing.

Commission chair Brian Lynch said he recognized what Hodgson was seeking but that the commission's purview is limited to approving the park plan and specifications.

"We have to evaluate it make sure it's practical doesn't impact anyone else or anything," said Lynch.

However, Lynch volunteered to sit in on a new community/town Dog Park group to help give input to the process. The group, which was still forming up at press time, will also include Hodgson, Lope de Haro, Town Manager Mike Paulhus, Public Works Director Fran Merola, Parks and Recreation Director Lauren Munro and could include more interested members from the community.

"I've already volunteered to be a part of that nucleus and help that moving forward," said Lynch.  "Conceptually, the Dog Park has been approved by both Town Council and Park and Rec; and what these folks are looking for is how do they move forward – has a piece of property been identified as to exactly where the Dog Park is going to be? Mike and Fran have worked conceptually on an area. So I think first step is to do that and let them know this is the town property."