geared toward older Americans, but of course it’s for everyone,” says Mayor O’Connell, describing the transformation of Davol Park. “There’s a walking trail there as well, and a small and large dog park,” Pateakos adds. “If you have little chihuahuas, you’ll have your own little space, and if you have bigger dogs, you’ll have your own separate but attached park.” These pet-friendly amenities acknowledge the growing importance of accommodating pets in public spaces as pet ownership continues to rise nationwide. The city is also working to position itself within the growing youth sports tourism market. “We’ve been trying to figure out how to attract baseball teams and touring,” Pateakos explains. “We have a place called Four Kicks focused on soccer that’s where everybody in probably most of the state goes to play indoor soccer.” Looking ahead, Mayor O’Connell emphasizes housing as a central focus for Taunton’s future.“The next two years, we are really going to focus on creating more housing, in particular affordable housing, because 215 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 05 TAUNTON, MA
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