I originally founded this group as the Massachusetts Dog Park Coalition with the goal of building a community of knowledge between the organizations that maintain the dog parks around the state. However, after visiting parks across New England and speaking with park maintainers in other states, I realized our mission needed to expand. While forming our board, I sought individuals passionate about dogs and supporting groups. One board member, involved in scent work events, helped broaden our focus to include those groups and locations as well. (Note that, although we approve of all of the work that rescues and shelters do, our mission is to support the venues like parks, scent work, and agility facilities._
We are now formally incorporated as the New England Dog Park Coalition and are awaiting 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. Our bylaws and board details will be posted soon.
What this site will feature:
- Dog Park Info: Under the “Dog Parks” menu, we’ll list information on over 300 dog parks across New England, including park rules, features, and special restrictions (e.g., “members only” or “spayed/neutered required”). Listings are searchable by location, rule, and feature, and will include a state map showing towns with dog parks. We’ve started with Massachusetts parks, with more to follow. Once complete, we’ll add information on other dog-friendly venues in the region. If you notice any errors in the descriptions or missing parks, let us know!
- Facebook Feeds: Under “Social Feeds,” we’ll list social media feeds from dog parks and event organizations. We’ve begun with Massachusetts and will add more soon.
- Events: Share your organization’s events—fundraisers, breed meetups, and more! We’ll list them here and, as we grow, will host some events of our own.
- Links: We provide links to dog park and event organization websites, as well as vendors for park equipment.
- Affiliate Memberships: As we grow, we’ll offer organizations the opportunity to join, share knowledge, and access potential benefits. More details coming soon.
