About the Chelmsford Dog Association

The Friends of the Chelmsford Dog Park was a spin-off organization from the CDA.

In December 2019, the CDA split the organization in order to better handle the tasks of their charter. The CDA remained dedicated to supporting local dog owners in all ways, including community outreach and education. The Friends of the Chelmsford Dog Park (FCDP) was to take on the role to work with the Town of Chelmsford (through DPAC) for maintenance and development of the park itself.

As of May 31, 2021, the FCDP decided to disband and maintenance of the park was handed back to the CDA.

The CDA (Chelmsford Dog Association) is a non-profit organization made up of residents from Chelmsford and surrounding towns, organized to help promote and support the maintenance of the off-leash dog park in town as well as to promote responsible pet ownership and educate local pet owners.

The CDA worked to build and continues to maintain the Chelmsford Dog Park. The CDA also works to educate people about responsible dog ownership.

In 2013, the CDA was officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit/charitable organization by the IRS.

The CDA had an agreement with the town of Chelmsford to provide volunteers and funding (through donations and grants) for the maintenance and support of the Chelmsford Dog Park. This includes the physical property and the well-being of the park users (both dog and human)

In December 2019, the CDA decided to split the organization in order to separate the tasks of their charter. The CDA was to remains dedicated to supporting local dog owners in all ways, including community outreach and education while the Friends of the Chelmsford Dog Park (FCDP) was to take on the role to work with the Town of Chelmsford (through the Town’s Dog Park Advisory Committee (DPAC)) for maintenance and development of the park itself.

For 2020, the CDA focused  on the second half of their charter: Supporting and educating dog owners and will be doing Comunity outreach and holding seminars on various dog-related topics. However, as of May 31, 2021,t he FCDP decided to dissolve and, after discussion with the DPAC, handed the responsibility for the maintenance of the Chelmford Dog Park back to the CDA.

The Dog Park Advisory Committee (DPAC) is a town committe made up of Chelmsford residents who provides advice to the town (through the town manager) regarding the Chelmsford Dog Park.

The DPAC works closely with the FCDP to determine the most effective use of grant monies for park enhancement and maintenance.

Decisions regarding closures and other site related questions come from the Town Manager’s office, as advised by the DPAC, who represents the interests of the town, and the FCDP who represent the interests of the Dog Park and their members.

As a town committee, the DPAC is subject to Open Meeting requirements.

http://www.townofchelmsford.us/505/Dog-Park-Advisory-Committee

Membership & Volunteers Committee Charter

The Chelmsford Dog Association (CDA) was organized in 2009 by several Chelmsford residents.

The primary goal of the CDA, when formed, was to promote responsible dog ownership, educate dog owners (and others) and spearhead the construction of an off-leash dog park in Chelmsford, MA.

In 2012, the CDA officially formed as a non-profit corporation and received IRS approval as a 501(c)(3) charitable community organization in 2013.

Although the membership remained small, the core members and board of directors ran fund-raisers, met with town officials, found an acceptable site and won a grant from the Stanton Foundation to build the park.

The agreement with the town was that park would be granted use of the land (2 acres) on the grounds of a former DPW site but that the CDA would maintain the park.

In 2015 construction started and, in June of 2016, the park was opened.

The CDA continued to maintain the park solely through volunteer efforts and donations from CDA members and other park goers.

In December 2019, the CDA decided to split the organization in order to separate the tasks of their charter. The CDA was to remains dedicated to supporting local dog owners in all ways, including community outreach and education while the Friends of the Chelmsford Dog Park (FCDP) was to take on the role to work with the Town of Chelmsford (through the Town’s Dog Park Advisory Committee (DPAC)) for maintenance and development of the park itself.

For 2020, the CDA focused  on the second half of their charter: Supporting and educating dog owners and will be doing Comunity outreach and holding seminars on various dog-related topics. However, as of May 31, 2021,t he FCDP decided to dissolve and, after discussion with the DPAC, handed the responsibility for the maintenance of the Chelmford Dog Park back to the CDA.

Events Committee Charter

We promote and support:

• Proper exercise and socialization of dogs to ensure psychologically and physically healthy dogs; leading to beneficial relationships with their families, neighbors and the community.
• Availability of legal, off-leash recreational areas for dogs to properly exercise in a safe and clean environment.
• Education and informational resources for dog owners and the community to encourage acceptable dog behavior.
• The rights and interests of dog owners and fostering the dog owner community.
• The health, welfare and humane treatment of dogs.

Meet the current Board of Directors of the CDA:

• President: Will Wagner
• Recording Secretary: Joyce Bean
• Treasurer: Katherine Gould
• Director: Lou Marteli
• Director: PJ Rin