Winthrop Foundation Awards $100,000 Grant for New Dog

The Town of Winthrop has broken ground for a new dog park adjacent to Veterans Road, using a $100,000 grant from the Winthrop Foundation for the much-anticipated project. The target date for the construction of the dog park is spring, 2022.,

Interim Town Manager Terence Delehanty praised the Winthrop Foundation for approving the grant.

“We’re grateful for the Winthrop Foundation stepping up to help us build the dog park,” said Delehanty. “The DPW’s coordination of that site deserves praise as well. The dog park has been a long time coming, and we’re happy to get it underway.”

The dog park will be situated on the Veterans Road side of the Winthrop Golf Course. The park will be available for use by large and small dogs.

Delehanty said the dog park had been a dream of Michael McDuffee, a Winthrop resident who died in January, 2019.

“Michael was passionate about making sure that we had a dog park in the town, and we are making good on his vision,” said Delehanty.

The Town Council shared that vision with Mr. McDuffee, having discussed the possibility of building a dog park at its Council meetings.

Foundation Chair Russ Sanford said the trustees discussed the town’s grant application for the dog park “and thought it was a good choice for the town.”

 Sanford said that former Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo initiated the launch of the Foundation after securing $2.5 million in funding from Massport. DeLeo asked Sanford if he would chair the foundation and Sanford said he was honored to be asked, and to lead such an impactful organization that would help the town.