WESTFIELD – The Conservation Commission will meet tonight to perhaps make a decision on conditions for development of a municipal dog park at the Armbrook flood control area.
The issue has been before the commission for several months awaiting a response from the state Natural Heritage and Endangered Species agency pertaining to the park’s development on the environment supporting flora and fauna.
City Engineer Mark Cressotti said this morning that the Conservation Commission has been notified by the state agency that “there is no adverse impact to that environment.”
However, the Flood Control Commission is arguing that the flood-control dam and surrounding area were taken by the federal government and city for a specific purpose, building, and protecting, the flood control dam, one of two constructed in the early 1960s to reduce or eliminate flooding downstream.
The brook during the flood of 1955 washed away buildings of then Sterling Radiator, now MESTEC, damaging North Elm Street and flooding the plains along Union Street.
The city has researched documents pertaining to which municipal agency is in control of the dam. Part of the property is under control of the Park & Recreation Commission which has approved the dog park concept, while the Flood Control Commission maintains and repairs the earthen dam.
Cressotti said that the Law Department has gone through the documents creating the flood control area.
“They found that it was created under the Conservation Commission,” Cressotti said. “Nowhere does it mention the Flood Control Commission. My anticipation for tonight is that there will be some discussion if the Law Department shows up to address those legal issues. Otherwise, the commission may have enough information to move forward.”
The dog park concept calls for creation of two areas, a fenced area for small dogs and a more expansive area, also defined by fences, to allow large dogs to run loose.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik, a proponent of the dog park, is also planning construction of a new regional animal shelter as part of the Turnpike Industrial Park development project, reserving about five acres of the 66-acre, municipally-owned land for that facility and an associated fenced area.
However, that project is still several years down the road, while the Armbrook dog park will address an immediate need.
