Dennis to begin construction on Port Side Community Park

The Town of Dennis announced Oct. 20 that construction is set to begin next week on Port Side Community Park, located at 187 Upper County Road in Dennis Port.

The project follows Community Preservation Funds approved at the Special Town Meeting on Oct. 6, 2026. The park will replace a largely paved site, formerly used as a church parking lot, with landscaping, walking paths, multi-use play areas, a basketball court, bicycle racks, picnic tables, benches and water stations.

Residents first supported the project in 2024 by approving funds to purchase the property. Later Town Meeting approvals funded removal of the former church building, property surveying and project design.

The Dennis Port/West Dennis Advancement Committee organized multiple public outreach meetings, conducted a resident survey and developed several conceptual plans for the site. The town's Engineering Department, working with design consultant Horsley Witten, turned the preferred concepts into full construction plans and put the project out to competitive bidding.

The bid opening was held Sept. 22, 2026, and the town received six bids. Robert Our of Harwich submitted the winning bid of $2,014,697.06. The town advertised the project for bids before the Special Town Meeting so residents would have a firm construction cost to consider. At the Oct. 6 meeting, Dennis voters unanimously approved the funding article, allowing the town to issue the Notice of Award and proceed toward construction.

Robert Our is scheduled to begin work next week, with construction expected to be completed by next summer. Once finished, the park will provide residents and visitors with an outdoor space for recreation, relaxation and community gathering.

Source: Town of Dennis announcement, October 21, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement. It was corrected where it differed.