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dog park funding

Finding funds for Fido’s park

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH –  Fido and friends will enjoy an updated dog park thanks to public funds being allocated for improvements.

They instructed City Treasurer Lori Hill and City Engineer Lynn Burnett to come back Oct. 26 with a proposed budget amendment. Moving existing funds to a dedicated line item for the dog park, the amendment won’t add money to the budget.

“I think if we don’t assign the money it’s going to be lost again in the thousand things we do,” Commissioner Carol Soustek said.

Burnett said there are several “buckets” of money to pull from to dedicate funding for the park. Those buckets include the public works park maintenance fund, the half-cent infrastructure tax and the five-cent gas tax fund. Adding to the available funds is $800 in donations the city’s been holding earmarked for the park. Commissioner Judy Titsworth wants to consider applying for concession funds for at least a part of the project.

Planning to take a look at the entire park complex between city hall and 63rd Street, Burnett asked commissioners to wait. She plans to have a consultant evaluate the skate park, baseball field, dog park and toddler park. Afterwards, she recommends a plan of action to commissioners. Part of the hold up is that the consultant hasn’t yet visited the property. For a restart, a new bid process needs to take place.

Commissioner Jean Peelen disagreed with the project’s timing.

“I think it’s wonderful, but it puts taking action six, eight, 12 months down the road,” she said.

Soustek wants the skate and dog parks to be priorities for the new fiscal year.

Both Titsworth and Commissioner Marvin Grossman balked at waiting for funding. Grossman argued a proposed bicycle path already has funding, but hasn’t been approved. Similarly, Titsworth spoke of moving $105,000 in funds allocated for debt services to other projects. The debt services amount is budgeted to purchase additional open green space for the city.

“I want the parks we have right now to be improved to something we can be proud of,” she said.

Peelen asked Hill and Burnett to create line items for both parks. Both budgets will be presented for discussion at the Oct. 26 work session. Commissioners expect a vote to approve the budget amendment in November.

The city’s parks and beautification committee also seeks to help Fido.

The group, working with Grossman as commission liaison, hopes to help plan improvements.

“It’s the most frequently used park in the city,” committee Chair Zan Fuller said. “I think we can do something really beautiful there.”

Holmes Beach dog park

Dog park improvements sought for Fido

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH — This park may already have gone to the dogs, but that doesn’t mean improvements aren’t needed.

Seven pet owners appeared before members of the Holmes Beach Parks and Beautification Committee May 3 to ask for their assistance in planning an improved dog park.

Some of the issues cited with the park include lack of space in both the small and large dog areas, lack of grass in the area which results in muddy paws after rain showers and the need for at least one more pavilion to provide shade for owners to relax while their playful pups romp in the sunlight.

Commissioner Marvin Grossman, liaison to the committee, said he felt the owners coming to the city for help was “a little premature.” He, along with members of the parks and beautification committee, suggested the pet owners get together and present a unified plan to improve both the small and large dog sections of the park.

Committee members put a presentation from the dog park users on their October agenda. Following the May meeting, the committee began a four-month hiatus for the summer.

Committee Chair Jerry West suggested the dog park users create an informal committee to develop a plan and “speak as one voice” in the fall in front of the parks and beautification committee.

“Bring us a plan, or at least a loose-knit plan instead of a problem,” committee member Zan Fuller said.

Grossman said he felt the park users would receive support from city commissioners if a plan was presented and received the parks and beautification committee stamp of approval.

Committee members agreed that some changes are needed in the park but were unsure of how to make the best use of the space and meet the needs of both the pets that enjoy the park and their owners.

“They’re the ones using it,” Fuller said, “they need to determine what works best for them.”

The dog park users agreed to research and come up with a plan along with a proposed cost for the improvements to present to the committee when members begin meeting again in the fall. Grossman committed to bring the park to the attention of his fellow commissioners and help find funding for improvements if necessary.

“We’ll raise funds if necessary,” he said.