In the weeks leading up to Town Meeting, it appeared as if an agenda item requesting funds for a new park would lead to a dog fight between supporters and detractors. In the end, the issue was all bark and no bite.

At Monday’s Town Meeting, a $100,000 request for Community Preservation funds to build a 1-acre dog park at Minot Forest was delayed for further study with little fanfare.

A volunteer group called DPAW (Dog Park Affiliation of Wareham) spearheaded the effort, which began one year ago. While Community Preservation funds would be used to build the park, it would be maintained by volunteers and funds secured by DPAW, a nonprofit.

DPAW has advocated for the park saying it would benefit canines and their owners. The dogs would be allowed to run off leash inside the fenced in park and owners wouldn’t have to drive more than hour in some cases for that opportunity.

The fact that the request made it to Town Meeting floor shows progress for the park, which was shot down by Selectmen one year ago when the Community Preservation Committee and the Open Space Committee floated the idea to the board.

At the time, Selectmen said they were concerned about liability and maintenance.

Earlier this year, dog park advocates returned to the board with the plan and received encouragement. However, Selectmen still cited insurance costs as a potential stumbling block.

Rather than pursuing the park and butting heads, DPAW proposed an amended article which calls for a five member Dog Park Study Committee consisting of one Selectmen, one member of DPAW, one member of the Open Space Committee, and two citizens at large.

The committee will "discuss the future location, funding, liability, with a report due back to the body" at Fall Town Meeting according to Brian Litchfield, petitioner of the article and member of DPAW.