Newton residents get their first formal say Tuesday, Sept. 29, on a proposed off-leash dog area at Oak Hill Park. The Parks and Recreation Commission hearing caps more than two years of organized advocacy and opposition in South Newton.

The public hearing begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, Room 204, 1000 Commonwealth Ave. Residents can also join by Zoom using Webinar ID 819 1249 1272. It is the first formal hearing on the proposal after a listening session the city held in October 2025.

The plan would carve out roughly 0.3 acres of Memorial Field, a triangular section at the back corner of the 3-acre park, for a fully fenced off-leash area with double-gate entry, seating, shade and possible separate zones for small and large dogs, according to the Supporters of South Newton Dog Park, the advocacy group behind the proposal.

The group says South Newton is the only Newton neighborhood without walkable access to a fenced off-leash park. Oak Hill Park sits farther from any existing off-leash space than any other point in the city, the group says. Dogs already use Memorial Field off-leash informally, and supporters argue a fenced enclosure would be safer.

The group also says construction and maintenance would be paid entirely from dog license fees, at no cost to general taxpayers.

Not everyone agrees.

An opposition group calling itself "Oak Hill Park is for Kids" describes Memorial Playground as a children's recreation space with swings, sports fields, basketball courts, tennis courts and an open lawn next to Solomon Schechter Day School. Placing an off-leash area beside it, the group argues, creates a conflict in use.

Newton already operates eight off-leash locations citywide, three of them fully fenced: Hunnewell Playground, Cabot Park and Richard McGrath Park, according to the city's parks department website. The city's Off-Leash Area Working Group evaluates proposed sites against 13 criteria, including impact on abutters, conservation, ADA compliance and cost.

The meeting agenda, filed with the City Clerk on Friday, Sept. 25, lists the off-leash hearing as the second item. The commission will also discuss phosphorus runoff control projects at Cold Spring Park, Cabot Dog Park and Braceland Park.

The proposal falls under Parks and Open Space Director Ahron Lerman's office. No vote is scheduled for Tuesday's meeting. Residents who cannot attend can reach the Parks and Open Space office at 617-796-1525.