The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2001 09 24 Informational A Dog Park COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM A CONSENT INFORMATIONAL X PUBLIC HEARING . REGULAR 9/24/01 Meeting MGR. V IDEPT C-G? Authorization REQUEST: The Parks and Recreation Department is providing the City Commission current information regarding a designated Dog Park. PURPOSE: To purpose of this informational item is to give the City Commission information so that they may consider offering this type of facility to the public in the future. CONSIDERATIONS: . The discussion, planning, and construction of designated Dog Park is increasing due to public need and demand. Both the City of Sanford and the City of Winter Park currently have a designated Dog Park. . The City of Winter Springs has no designated Dog Park. . Citizens have requested a designated Dog Park. . The ideal site is 1-1.5 acres and treed with adequate shade. It is a stand alone site like Sanford Dog Park or part of a larger park not adjacent to heavy youth activities and with parking area. . The estimated cost for design, fencing, signage, and amenities is $ 25,000 - $ 50,000 not including a paved parking area. . Possible location for a designated Dog Park could be Trotwood Park on the vacant park property on the S/E side adjacent to the City Treatment Plant. . A thorough analysis of the site by a consultant and discussions with residents is needed to see if a designated Dog Park would blend into the area, FUNDING: N/A 1 RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Commission discuss a designated Dog Park and further directs the City Manager regarding the future offering of this type of facility. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE: N/A ATTACHMENTS: Attachment # 1 1. 2, 3, Citizens letter and e-mail. Letter from Winter Park, Parks and Recreation Director. Sanford Dog Park Information. COMMISSION ACTION: 2 .. ATTACHMENT III ~.".t ~~:""'::EIVED t~,.,,:;, '_~.,v., '..tiif' AUG 0 6 2001 TO ALL COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER, MAYOR AND PARK DIRECTOR: City of Winter Springs 1126 East SR 434 Winter Springs, FI32708 ~r~ W-~!Z- CITY OF ~~~T~JRLCP/RINGS CJ> cc-f CfYL CA C/ f r,-- August 4, 2001 I have talked with the City Parks Director, Chuck Puhn, on several occasions about a dog park. We discussed possible locations as well as what would have to be done as far as the City was concerned to make this park available. A section of unused wooded area in Central Winds Park was suggested as a good location. It was away from "people" activity and it is a wooded area that would be necessary. All that would be needed, would be to clear undergrowth, remove a few trees, plant grass, place in a few water locations, a few bench locations and fence it in. Mr. Pula said it was too close to "people activity", but we are still looking for a good location somewhere else within the city. An e-mail to the City Manager got the same reply. Mr. Mc Lemore replied; "We haven't found the right location but we will continue to try. Please call City Hall if you have any other questions". In searching for the right location, I came across a wooded area that is actually designated recreation on the zoning map of Winter Springs. This area is located on the east side of Shore Rd., between Stonier and Sailfish Roads. Inspecting the area indicates it is not wet and has upland throughout. What would be needed is the land ( approximately one to one and one-half acre). Enough trees must be left to supply needed shade for the comfort of both the dogs and their owners. This could be a good location, as well an asset to our city. If the dog park gets off the ground, I would like to suggest a contest to name the park for "man's best friend." It couId be held within the elementary and middle schools of Winter Springs and would be a great civics lesson for them. It would be good for the children and good for the City of Winter Springs. Since the city already owns the land in question, the only cost would be preparing the area for the dog park. I believe the amount of money required could be made available. Mr. Pula could contact the City of Sanford to get the financial data to proceed with this project. This would be a positive step in giving back to the taxpayers a piece of their city. Page 2 I would be very happy to work with the Parks Director in formulating a plan and layout of such a venture. I will speak to the City Commissioners on this issue under public input at the next meeting, August 13,2001. Thank you for taking time to read this letter. ~i cerely y~ . ~ c::::z:-:...... ene Lein . " 'J:. 16 1e . ..TRACT'A' PASSIVE PARKI CONSERVATION :.'" ';1. ... ~ Norma Pardo From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Jan Palladino Tuesday, July 17,2001 1:12 PM Chuck Pula Norma Pardo FW: Dog park location ---Original Message- From: BogeyDriver@aol,com [SMTP:BogeyDriver@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2001 11 :16 AM To: Jan Palladino SUbject: Dog park location Att: Chuck Pula Recreation Director City of Winter Springs I spoke to you several weeks ago about the possibility of establishing a Dog Park within our park system in Winter Springs, We talked of different locations and your feelings are that such a park would have to away from public recreation. You mentioned Sam Smith Park in Tuscawilla, Looking at the site, I couldn't help but to notice an empty wooded area, along Winter Springs Blvd" to the right side of the entrance of Sam Smith Park and the sewage treatment plant. I don't know if this area belongs to the city. I think it does, All you need is about 1 (one) acre to include parking for about 10 (ten) cars.Of course the land would have to be cleared with enough shade trees left to make the dog park comfortable for both the dogs and their owners, I would like to talk to you about this location, It would be located away from the childrens park area and would be an entity by itself, Please contact me if we can dicuss this, Gene Lein 407-366-6327 1 ATTACHMENT 112 CITY OF WINTER PARK 401 PARK AVENUE SOUTH WINTER PARK. FLORIDA 32789-4386 August 24, 2001 Winter Springs Recreation Department Chuck Pula 1126 E. State Road 434 Winter Springs, FL 32708 Re: Dog Parks Dear Mr. Pula: I am writing this letter at the request of my Parks and Recreation Commission. They have asked me to inform our neighboring communities of a public need that is just beginning to be addressed in Central Florida. That is the need for designated dog parks. The City of Winter Park began an experiment several years ago in one of our parks that has proven to be not only popular, but very much in demand. . . Approximately two years ago the 'Parks and Recreation Commission quietly lifted the leash requirements in Fleet Peeples Park and the local neighbors and residents began to use and enjoy the park with their dogs. Recently, as the word of the "leash free park" spread throughout the web pages and the "Best Of Central Florida" Sentinel edition, the number of park visitors has dramatically increased. With this increase, we are finding a large percentage of the visitors are traveling significant distances because there are no "pet friendly" parks in their areas. Like most park trends, they tend to spread across the country over a period of several years. Dog Parks are already very common and popular throughout the West and Northeast United States and are just now beginning to appear in the Central Florida area. Realizing that this is a popular and growing demand by the public, I am asking you as a Park and Recreation Administrator to consider addressing this growing need within your park system if you have not already done so. ' I appreciate your consideration on this upcoming popular subject. Please contact me at (407) 599-3334 if I can help with any information. John R Holland, Director Department of Parks and Recreation ATTACHMENT if3 CITY OF SANFORD PAW PARK of HISTORIC SANFORD ~ '1~::;;ii;ll!,iIUL~1"'" ~i ~:,,--" '.-:';-rr~ . ',,, . ...~".' rft.,. '..'- . .' '. ,~ 1~:,::..I'~.il.V1J' __/1~' . . ~.r-s."", '~~'."'9Lt. ,:\f ~"f'-",;"",>...' ff ~'{' lll~~ .::~ ;~;"':'I 4 . , ~~ (: ~:~~;~~r'>> ...J~ .1_1...~..t'" t;.,:::~' '. .1..~_ ..'. :. " I . " . PA W P/\ RK INr(jil1! GRAND OPENING CEREMONY MAY 5,2001 1',,-, . '-,' '.hrl,'. ,..~i\'>I'.,...~II... ""',' ,- r.' .. It!..! ''', "II~~',' . ILwi':~,~'~: . , I ~ fif"~~ IiJ '"1 i .=~::~~~-~'~.~~~-,- j Sanford Dedicates Off Leash Dog Park by Howard Jeffries '~!""'Il"~'~ ' A" Do;.! I"~" lr:-' '-II.J I ~*,. '''''~~' . I~ . - . ..... .'1-.11 ~'!" -' F-." '" ~'.'" ", "',' 'fl' ,.1 ':-r:' "L ~,' -... ofi '~'i~ . ,.. " ,/,"'.' . '.' J .. ;;,., , .~, . .. l.!..-,"~ ',' e ~~~" .... I'..f: "'~. ::~ '.~ .Ii" IWrl\:lfI ~ j :, ~", " ", ';, " -~~ \ :'1!r~::;r."tI'. " " .tiJ1'" . \~" " . ';-'., i' II. '; T ,: :~ :-' ..., '~:~ > ~. i 1: ".k ,'7", . ., ,,~. !.It.~.. " ',' 'J ~ ". 4, , " 'I -"):J j .. . .. . . ~. " 4 '- [ '.,. . ::. '.:, ,r' .: ~ .!.~ '- . .. "- ~ . I .! - " .'. , - , I ., . _', :.. . On Salurda\'. .\1av 5. 2001. Saniord oificiallv (lp~ned "Paw Park:; C~ntral florida's first park dedicated to dogs. The grand opening was attended bv several hundred do~ owners and their pets, and since then. has continued to be well reeeh'ed bv the public. One dog owner recently commented' that raw Park has been a "hm...1ing success" - no pun intended. One might ask. "\Vhy ha..'e a park for dogs?" The answer is simple. It provides an area where dogs aTe permitted to run off.leash in il controlled environment. Not only is this go~ exercise ior the dogs, it makes them less aggressive. and it gives their owners a chance to socialize. On a side note by the author. thanks to his site we are encountering less dog pronlems in our other parks. especially dog waste. Is the idea oi a do~ park something new? No. they've been around for more than 20 years: and, as of this writing. there are more than 500 of them nationwide. When we were first approached by Friends of Paw Park. ~'ours truly was somewhat skeptical oi the idea and had concerns about liability and other iSS1:eS. Little did we recognize the need or how successiul it \\'Quld be, What amenitit:s arc in a dog park and how much does it cost to construct one? According to the author, Sanford's Paw Park, which is npproximately 1 1/2 ~cres in size and is located on an abandoned park site. cost approximately 522.000. Of that amount. nearly half\<Jas spent on a 6' perimeter ience '....ith double ~ated entrances. Amenities include separate areas ior both large and small dogs. raux lireplugs. self.watering dog fountains. dog showers, dog waste bag dispensers. and enclosed '.time out" area for ~Iggressive dogs, in addition to park benches and J community hulletin board {or human enjoyment. More than 510,000 was donated to the city by rriends of Paw Park. Not only did this group help spearhead this project IlOt.! get Cit~. Commis~ioners and community support. they have also hdped Park St~ji with maintenance and eniorcement of Paw Park's rules, which has provided a rMasant experit!nce to dog owners and their pel5. And we're not done yet! Future plans include adding a dog a~ility course, night lighting to extend the hours of operation, and a human restroom. Anyone interested in hearing more about different dOj:! parks are urged to contact the author at (40il 330-5688. By the wa}', he's interested in talking to :J.nYllne who has a Ji.ic ijolf course - his next endeavor. II .' Park I!eople Park People I . 5