New Milford Dog Park is an independent dog park and is not funded or managed by the Town of New Milford. We are managed by an all volunteer Board of Directors and are funded only by the generous donations of patrons and local business.
"Candlewoof" New Milford Dog Park is a not for profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to providing a safe and secure area for dogs to play and socialize. New Milford Dog Park will promote responsible dog ownership and community education through our events and meetings.
Current Board of Directors
The following dog park members have volunteered their time to support the business functions of the dog park and serve the membership community. Tap on their name to contact them directly via email or you may also speak to them in person at the monthly board meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.
- Paul Grant, President, aka "Alfie's Dad"
- Diane Sibert, Vice President, aka "Louie's Mom"
- Melissa Stahl, Community Affairs, aka "Oliver's Mom"
- Maddy Patrick, Secretary, aka " Sprout and Finn's Mom"
- Donna Gray, Social and Online Media, aka "Frankie's Mom"
Current Park Bylaws
The New Milford Dog Park Bylaws For the viewing by our community at large, here are the 2022 dog park bylaws that were fully updated, voted upon by the members, and will remain available to all in our community.
Recent Publicity
The park was recently featured in an article with The New Milford Spectrum on The CT Insider: New Milford ‘Candlewoof’ dog park gets repairs: ‘Safe space and a fun place for dogs and for people’
The park participated in the Give Local Online Fund Drive for Great Waterbury, Litchfield Hills and thanks to our supporters, we raised $3,506. Thank you to everyone involved and you can read more about it here.
The Dog Park Origin
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In 2007 a group of dog loving, New Milford citizens formed a committee with the goal of creating a dog park that would be a safe, fun place for their dogs to socialize and exercise "off-leash". In 2008 this goal driven committee joined forces with the New Milford Parks and Recreation to present their plan to then Mayor Pat Murphy. Then in 2009 the Mayor, after an arduous search decided upon the Kimberly-Clark 1.5 acre property on Pickett District Road, which had been leased to the town and was not in use at that time.
The Town of New Milford then sub-leased the property to the New Milford Dog Park Organization with one major caveat; that this Dog Park would not be at an expense to the town and would be managed by volunteers and funded solely through user and public donations. With the realization of the "Dog Park Dream" nearly complete, there was one vital component missing that had to be addressed. In stepped a loyal dog lover, a highly regarded member of the New Milford community, and a leader within the New Milford Education system, Mrs. Francis Terry, who made a generous donation in the memory of her late husband, Norman Terry, for the fencing that encloses the park to this day. Fran's daughter, Susan Chapin, and Paul Mayer, also contributed to the the fencing, in honor of Mr. Terry. |
 Welcome to New Milford "Candlewoof" Dog Park!
​Photo at left: Tammy Reardon, left, Lori Sartwell, center, and Frances Terry, cut the ribbon at the opening the New Milford Dog Park, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.
Photo: Michael Duffy - The News-Times
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