SPOT to Build Dog Park Soon

(Swampscott Park for Off-leash Time) welcomed two new board members at their January meeting. Swampscott residents and Joan Caradonna joined the SPOT board as treasurer and board member respectively.

“We’ve got some new people and some folks just shifted duties,” Jenn Dorsey said.

Diamant and Caradonna joined Chairman Mark Eichler and Vice Chairwomen and Jenn Dorsey.

Dorsey’s role expanded, in addition to her duties as communications director, she is now the group’s clerk.

“We’re ready to go, we’re just waiting for some good weather,” Dorsey said. “The money has been raised, and we hope to break ground this spring or early in the summer.”

A donor, who prefers to remain anonymous, contributed a sizeable amount of money that pushed the group past their original fundraising goal.

“We’re still looking to raise money, but we’re ready to break ground as soon as we can,” Dorsey said.

The layout of the park, located at the site of the former Kids’ Cove off of Humphrey Street, is being handled by Lauren Lautner of Marblehead’s Four Seasons Ecological Landscape Design, who donated her services to SPOT.

“We’ve got the park’s designer in place, but we are still looking for an actual landscape company to do the work on the park,” Dorsey said.

 “We’re more than willing to have the company’s signage posted on the park, and we’re hoping we can get a local landscape company to get on board with us as soon as the final layout plans are in place,” Dorsey said.

Dorsey and her family live on Bay View Avenue with Luther, a five year old, 90-pound mutt, who they adopted four years ago. Luther’s favorite activities are sleeping and patiently waiting for a snack.

Dorsey’s mother-in-law runs a dog rescue center in Walpole called Home Again, Home Again, Pet Rescue.

SPOT encourages dog lovers to get on board and join up with them. The next open meeting will be held at in Vinnin Square on Monday, March 28, at 7 p.m.

If you’d like to support SPOT and enjoy a deep-dish pizza, the group will be holding an Dough Raiser on Thursday, April 7, all day at the restaurant on Paradise Road.

SPOT will be selling coupons that can be used on food items at the restaurant from opening time until closing. Portions of the sales will be given to SPOT.

To purchase coupons or find out about all things SPOT, check out their website, www.bigbluespot.org.

“We got some new blood at the last meeting and that’s always good, we hope to see more new faces next time,” Dorsey said.