By Carol Britton Meyer

Longtime Hull resident David Irwin – who formed a committee focused on finding an appropriate location for a dog park after this year’s failed town meeting vote – reached out to the school committee this week to suggest that the site of the former Hull Wind I turbine behind the high school would be “ideal” for the park.

The recommendation to hire a consultant for $10,000 to conduct a dog park feasibility study was the only Community Preservation Committee warrant article that didn’t pass during the third session of the 2024 town meeting.

The ad hoc committee consists of nine members, all dog owners except for Irwin.

The parcel where the turbine once sat is about 60 by 200 feet, “has plenty of parking at the Hull Gut parking area,” is lit until 10 p.m., and there are “no residential properties within 1,000 feet, thus making this an ideal location for a dog park,” Irwin wrote in a letter to the school committee.

He attended the school committee meeting this week to present the proposal in person.

“I thought the idea of hiring a consultant to find a feasible parcel was ridiculous, and [during the town meeting dog park discussion], I got up and said I would do it for $1,” he recalled. “I’ve been in the fence business for years and know the areas in town where it would be OK to install one, although there isn’t much space in this town for a dog park.”

In bringing his “case” to the school committee, Irwin said he doesn’t know the “legal or insurance implications” but would appreciate the committee’s consideration.

“Only a minimal amount of fencing would be needed, because there’s already some fencing and a seawall there. I would like the committee to think about this and the legal aspects and for the ad hoc committee to be able to put this location on our list as a possible dog park site,” he explained. “We’ve also identified another parcel, but we don’t want to let the cat out of the bag just yet.”

There are more than 900 licensed dogs in town, and many that are not, because some pet owners can’t afford to take their dogs to the vet so don’t get them licensed, according to Irwin.

After visiting the assessors office to learn the locations of town-owned properties, Irwin and fellow committee members discovered after visiting most of the sites that the majority are in residential neighborhoods and have no parking, several lots have conservation deed restrictions or are wetlands, and some are covered with ledge.

School Committee Chair David Twombly, who praised Irwin for his many volunteer contributions to the town, said a determination would need to be made about insurance and whether a memorandum of agreement would be needed should the idea move forward.

If school committee support is ultimately granted, the proposal would be presented to the CPC at the next annual town meeting for potential funding. “It’s too late for this year. We’re probably talking about a two-year timeframe,” Irwin said.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Jette agreed to look into the possibility – including determining whether the school department or light plant has custody of the land where the turbine once stood, any insurance or MOA requirements, and other considerations – and to talk with the school department’s attorney.

“We’ll get back to you by January,” Twombly told Irwin, with enough time to seek CPC funding and town meeting approval if the school committee ultimately supports the proposal.

School committee member Regan Yakubian was impressed with Irwin’s dedication to finding an appropriate site, even though he doesn’t have a dog himself.

“I would love to see a dog park in this town,” fellow school committee member Liliana Hedrick said. “Some people don’t want them on the beach, although they love it there.”

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