Town adopts use for Nike site

Published by The Boston Globe

The Needham School Committee and selectmen took action this week to use portions of the old Nike site next to Ridge Hill for an educational farm project and a pilot off-leash dog park.

The move by selectmen was part of a more comprehensive effort to deal with the ticklish subject of dog walking.



The School Committee voted Tuesday to lease part of the Nike site to the Community Farm Committee for educational purposes. A Needham resident will begin surveying land on the hilltop, now covered by meadows, and a lease could be signed as early as this fall, said Michael Greis, a committee member.

The Nike site has about 18 acres in total. The committee is looking to offer about an acre for lease, but the Community Farm may get a bigger plot to allow the area to be fenced off, Greis, who is also Green Needham Chairman, said.

Also on Tuesday, selectmen voted to dedicate part of the Nike site to a pilot off-leash dog park.

Selectmen also voted to ban dogs and other animals, other than service animals, from Memorial Park and DeFazio Complex. They voted to establish fines for violators and consider further regulations on commercial dog walkers.