The Burial Grounds and the Dog Play Area

After multiple years of discussion and obtaining authorization from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the Church, in collaboration with the Churchyard Hounds (a group of neighborhood dog owners), opened a Dog Play Area enclosure within the Church’s burial grounds along Eliot Street in July 2023.

During COVID-19’s 2020-2021 lockdown periods, many local dog owners found comfort, health, and community building by meeting with their dogs in the Church’s burial grounds while still maintaining social distancing.  In order to continue to support the dog owner community in our neighborhood and recognizing the lack of space in Jamaica Plain where a dog can be legally “off leash,” the Church with this Dog Play Area is striving to address within its limited ability this unmet community need.

The new Dog Play Area is approximately 30 by 90 feet and is the only space on the Church’s property where dogs registered with the Churchyard Hounds can play “off leash” in accordance with the program’s rules and guidelines.  For information on the Churchyard Hounds, the program, and an application to participate, Click the link here.  You can also email Churchyardhounds@gmail.com for more information.

Requesting Feedback

The Church encourages members of the neighborhood and greater Jamaica Plain to provide feedback on the Dog Play Area program, irrespective of whether that feedback is a compliment, suggestion, general comment, or complaint.  Please send your feedback to dogplayarea@firstchurchjp.org which will be monitored by the Church’s leadership and, as appropriate, shared with the Churchyard Hounds.  Your emails will provide the Church with important information on how well the program is being respectful of the burial grounds and our neighbors.

Regarding complaints:  If there are complaints regarding specifically the operation of the Dog Play Area or dog-related issues on the rest of the Church’s property, both the Church and the Churchyard Hounds want to address these issues promptly.  Please email dogplayarea@firstchurchjp.org as soon as possible with specific details including date, time of incident, detailed description of observations, and the issue or concern.   Non-specific complaints will still be welcomed as general feedback.  

Letters regarding the Dog Play Area program can also be mailed to First Church in Jamaica Plain, ATTN: Co-Chair, 6 Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.