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Tag: Holmes Beach Dog Park

Holmes Beach dog park aerial

Help remodel the Holmes Beach dog park

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

HOLMES BEACH – For anyone with a stake in the remodeling of the Holmes Beach dog park, the time to voice an opinion is 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

Improvements to Scentral Park will be decided Jan. 10. – Kristin Swain | Sun

The city’s Parks and Beautification Committee is hosting a special meeting at City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, to discuss a new hardscape plan for the dog park. Committee member Dennis Groh said the goal is to leave the meeting with a finalized hardscape plan to present to city commissioners for approval.

Everyone is invited to attend the meeting to give input on the plan for the park, from regular park users to residents who live near the park and have concerns. Committee member Joshua Linney said he hopes to have input from as many people as possible when committee members make design decisions.

The city commission allocated $50,000 to the committee’s budget for park improvements. Ideas being discussed include the installation of benches and shade structures, improved fences and gates, and the possibility of expanding the size of the current park, located adjacent to City Field.

Anyone with input who cannot attend the meeting can email ideas to Linney at jlinney@holmesbeachfl.org by Tuesday, Jan. 9 for inclusion at the Wednesday meeting.

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Holmes Beach dog park discussion

Planning for dog park improvements begins

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

HOLMES BEACH – Work is underway to bring fresh ideas and upgraded facilities to the city’s dog park.

Users from both the small and large dog parks gathered with Parks and Beautification Committee members Nov.1. Talks began to decide what changes are needed in the park. The first one suggested is to enlarge both parks.

Mayor Bob Johnson presented committee members and guests with an aerial photo of the park showing his suggestion to move the fence closer to Flotilla Drive to include more space for dogs and several established shade trees. Longtime dog park advocate Renae Ferguson applauded the idea. She added that the mature trees would reduce the need to add more trees to the park and provide much-needed shade for pets and owners.

Holmes Beach dog park aerial
An aerial shot shows where the fence exists for the dog park and how far Mayor Bob Johnson proposes the fence line extend. – Submitted | Sun

A large point of concern for users is the park’s irrigation system. Public Works Foreman Dave Benton was on hand for the meeting and agreed to go out with a group of park goers to visually check the sprinkler system on the small dog side. Users said they felt it wasn’t adequately watering the park, causing grass to die. As part of the park’s renovation process, the stormwater drainage system also will be observed to determine if further improvements are needed.

With a lot of ideas offered for how to spend the $50,000 allotted for park improvements by city commissioners, committee member Josh Linney said he felt more input from dog park users is needed. He suggested committee members visit the park and talk with users to create a priority-based list of items to consider. After the list is collected, dog park users will have a chance to weigh in on what they think is needed if funds are available. Based on that list, committee members will make a presentation to city commissioners to approve the changes and expenditures.

A draft of the priority list is expected to be presented at the next Parks and Beautification Committee meeting in December.

Johnson said he’s in favor of establishing priorities for the park before action is taken. He warned users that seeing the implementation of changes will be a gradual process involving not only user notice but also notice to neighboring property owners.

Linney also suggested contacting local businesses to see if sponsorships can be obtained for some of the improvements to lessen the financial burden on taxpayers and the city.

“I think this project is completely doable,” he said.

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.”