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Court considers Foxboro dog park's future
 John Rush, left, of Foxboro, Nick Marchione of Walpole and his daughter Sara, 10, hang out with their dogs at the Sharon Dog Park. John and Nick's wife and daughter are regular visitors to the Foxboro Dog Park which remains closed until a land judge in Boston decides if it should re-open. (Staff photo by Mark Stockwell)
Top Headlines In an hour-long hearing in Land Court in Boston Friday, Judge Keith Long questioned attorneys, but gave no immediate decision on whether to continue, lift or expand a temporary injunction he issued on Feb. 14, Selectman Robert Hickey said. Long said he would issue a written decision next week. Hickey attended Friday's hearing with Selectman Mark Sullivan and acting conservation commission Chairman Robert Boette. "It's a tough one to call," Sullivan said. "It wasn't emotional. It wasn't exciting. It was informational." Selectmen and the conservation commission are defendants in a suit brought this month by 17 abutters and other area residents seeking to close the park at Cocasset River Park. The dog park opened in 2006. The trial date has not been set. Also attending Friday's hearing in Land Court were plaintiffs Don Baker, his wife Sandra Kendall, and Daniel L. Smith. Reached at her Milton Lane home, Kendall declined to comment on the legal dispute. Sullivan said he hopes the judge lifts the temporary injunction. He said only the judge and the lawyers spoke during the hearing. Among the topics the lawyers discussed was a dog bite suffered by a 17-year-old King Philip Regional High School senior from Plainville who is still undergoing rabies shots, Hickey said. Long's temporary injunction last week ordered that all dogs be leashed at all times at the park. He required the posting of his order and a sign to that effect. But several park visitors let their dogs run free in violation of the order, resulting in complaints to police. On the town lawyer's advice, Recreation Director Debbie Giardino locked the entire Cocasset River Park until further notice. The park will stay locked at least until the judge comes forward with his decision next week on the status of his preliminary injunction.
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