Southwick Park and Recreation Hears Dog Park, Scout, and Fireworks Plans Without Quorum

Other Committee · Meeting of February 11, 2026

Southwick Park and Recreation heard three public presentations but took no votes after only two members appeared at the February 11 meeting. Diane Gale, chair of the Friends of the Southwick Dog Park, presented a plan to donate 32 acres at 67 Hudson Drive to the town, including a solar-powered, low-maintenance dog park and additional rail trail parking on roughly 10 buildable acres, and asked the board to write a support letter for grant applications. Life Scout Anthony Stefano of Troop 114 sought approval to install three Little Free Library boxes on the rail trail as his Eagle Scout project, with carpentry students at Putnam Vocational Technical Academy in Springfield building the wooden boxes.

Joe Dede of the South Hook Civic Fund outlined an August 15 parade and fireworks event budgeted at $14,000 for fireworks and $6,000 for rides, with live music donated, and requested use of Wally Park for the parade's conclusion and parking. Chair David DeLaurie told all three presenters that no decisions could be made until the next full board meeting, tentatively scheduled for March 11.

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Source: the Other Committee meeting of February 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.