Destination: Northborough Unleashed Bark Park

Another great option for a dog park in Central MA is the brand new Unleashed Dog Park in Northborough, MA. I’ve had my eye on this project for a long time — watching it go from a simple “idea,” to planning board meetings, countless Facebook posts, community input, safety discussions, and regulation reviews. After what feels like years of planning, the park finally opened this past week — and it was absolutely worth the wait.

We brought The Trio for their first visit on Friday night after dinner, and even at that hour there were about 6 dogs still out playing. The park is located on Boundary Street, easy to find, and has a small but convenient parking lot close to the entrance. That was a big plus for me, especially when wrangling three large dogs on my own. The people we met there were warm, welcoming, and clearly excited about having such a great new space in town.

The park itself is spacious, thoughtfully laid out, and divided into two sections — presumably one for large dogs and one for small, though the signage doesnt specify this. There’s running water available in the vestibule between the two play yards. The setup is a little unconventional, but the idea seems to be that owners can fill bowls and bring them into the yards for their pups. It’s a detail that may get refined over time, but for now, it’s functional and helpful.

For the dogs, it’s a paradise:

• Lots of open space to run and chase.

• Mature trees providing shade and natural sniffing spots.

• Donated toys like balls and pop-up tunnels.

• Rock benches to climb and perch on.

• Leash holders conveniently placed near the entrances.

For the humans, there are shaded areas and benches, so you can sit back and relax while the dogs socialize — assuming your pup doesn’t need too much hands-on supervision. There are also numerous poop bag and disposal stations so it's easy for parents to clean up after their dogs.

Because it’s free to use, one question that lingers is how ongoing maintenance and upkeep will be handled. With grass and brush already starting to show signs of overgrowth, this will be something for the community or town to figure out as the park gets more use. But it’s still very early days, and like any new project, there will be tweaks and adjustments as time goes on.

Overall, Unleashed Dog Park is a wonderful addition to Central MA, offering a safe, large, and welcoming space for dogs and their owners. With its central location, generous size, and thoughtful touches, it’s sure to become a favorite gathering spot for the community. We’ll definitely be back — and The Trio gives it four paws up! 🐾