HOLMES BEACH – The city is now providing Scentral Park dog park updates at the city website, www.holmesbeachfl.org. The online updates can also be accessed using the QR code posted on the dog park gates.
This QR code is linked to the dog park update page at the city website. – City of Holmes Beach | Submitted
Public Works Director Herb Raybourn provided a dog park update during the Wednesday, Feb. 4, Parks and Beautification Committee meeting.
He said he was still waiting for the roots to take hold for the sod that was planted in a portion of the large dog area in mid-January. He said the cold weather slowed the growing process and once those roots take hold that area would be fertilized with 42-0-0 fertilizer. Later that day, City Commissioner Dan Diggins told The Sun he visited the dog park earlier in the day and when he pulled on the new sod it appeared the roots were taking hold.
The recently resodded portion of the large dog area is expected to reopen in mid-March. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Raybourn said the dog park improvement plan originally anticipated an eight-week closure of the recently resodded area, but that timeline may have to be extended depending on how the new sod performs.
Raybourn said the second phase of the ongoing large dog area resodding will be divided into two smaller small subphases. When that happens, the portion of the large dog area that was recently resodded will be reopened and about half of the remaining large dog area will be resodded, leaving approximately 75% of the large dog area available at all times.
Raybourn said an additional bench and concrete pad will be installed in the currently active portion of the large dog area when that area is temporarily closed for resodding.
“When we go to that side, that bench will be installed,” he said.
Half of the small dog area has been resodded. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Raybourn said about half of the small dog area has been resodded and after approximately eight weeks that resodded area will be reopened and the remaining small dog area will be resodded. He said the earliest full opening of the small dog area would be May 8, depending on how the sod takes.
“For the large dog portion of the dog park, we’re currently anticipating a March 13 opening of the new sodding area. Depending on the how the sod takes, that may get pushed back,” he said.
He said July 2 is the earliest anticipated reopening of the completely resodded large dog area
Raybourn said the issue with the drinking hydrants was determined to be a piece of the plunger that is cost-prohibitive to replace, so a timer valve will be installed to prevent the water from flowing longer than needed.
The dog park update QR code is posted on the dog park gates. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Committee member Mary Lange noted six new palm trees had been planted at the end of the large dog area near the public works department building and the West Manatee Fire Rescue building.
Raybourn said the large dog washing area would be relocated to that end of the park and a new concrete pad will be installed in a manner that helps ensure the water flows and drains in the right direction.
HOLMES BEACH – The Scentral Park dog park in Holmes Beach has been resodded as part of the city’s response to requests and concerns voiced by dog park users during recent city commission meetings and Parks and Beautification Committee meetings.
The dog park users requested more sod and less sandy surfaces, larger shade trees located in different areas, benches being placed side by side, modifications to the dog washing area, electrical service to the shade shelters and more.
Dog park advocate Renee Ferguson played a key role in the recent and planned park improvements. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the Jan. 13 city commission work session, dog park user and park advocate Renee Ferguson thanked the mayor, commission and city staff for their efforts that will remain ongoing until all planned improvements are completed. The city has budgeted approximately $29,000 for the past, present and future dog park improvements made or to be made during the current 2025-26 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30
While visiting from St. Louis, Maestro chased and caught his airborne Hurricanine rings while another portion of the dog park was being resodded. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the meeting, Mayor Judy Titsworth thanked Commissioner Dan Diggins for the $5,000 donation he made to cover a dog-park related funding shortfall. Portions of the dog park were fenced off during the sod installations, but the park remained open. Featuring large and small dog areas, Scentral Park is located along the 6000 block of Flotilla Drive, near the City Field athletic fields and sports courts.
The new sod was being installed in the large dog area on Jan. 14. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe dog park sod arrived on a semi-trailer. – Joe Hendricks | SunMaestro, from St. Louis, enjoyed his recent visit to Scentral Park. – Joe Hendricks | SunWhile visiting from St. Louis, Maestro, Rick Shetley and Dr. Victoria Meyer stopped by Scentral Park on Jan. 14. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
HOLMES BEACH – Frequent dog park users Renee Ferguson, Nicky Hunt and Tom Evans shared their park-related concerns and desires with the mayor and city commissioners on Dec. 16.
They did so during the public comment portion of a city commission meeting that didn’t include the dog park as an agenda item.
Ferguson, Hunt and Evans were among those who previously shared their dog park concerns with the city’s Parks and Beautification Committee on Dec. 3, with Commissioner Dan Diggins also present.
Mayor Judy Titsworth and the five commissioners support maintaining and improving the city-owned Scentral Park, but they hold differing opinions as to who should guide the planning efforts.
Bailey loves fetching the ball at the dog park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
As a result of the Dec. 16 discussion, Commission Chair Carol Whitmore plans to schedule a dog park-specific commission work session in January to allow for additional public input and commission discussion.
Commissioners Steve Oelfke and Jessica Patel support a January work session. Commissioners Dan Diggins and Terry Schaefer think the Parks and Beautification Committee and the dog park users should develop a plan before a work session is scheduled.
Public input
When addressing the commission, Ferguson said the original dog park opened in 2013 after a group of residents asked the city to dedicate a small piece of land for a dog park. The original Scentral Park was located just beyond the outfield of the city-owned baseball field in the City Field recreational complex that includes a soccer field, pickleball courts, tennis courts and a basketball court.
Holmes Beach residents Renee Ferguson advocates dog park improvements. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Ferguson said the original dog park users paid for tree plantings and other amenities and the public works department did an excellent job of maintaining the park. She said when the city decided to relocate Scentral Park to its current location in 2018, the park users were told the new location would be as good or better than the original location. She doesn’t believe that happened.
“We were promised shady trees, grass, irrigation and lights,” she said.
Scentral Park features four shade structures. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Ferguson said the dog park is used every day and there are often 40 or more people and dogs there socializing during peak morning and evening periods.
Ferguson said the city has poured a lot of money into its other recreational amenities but hasn’t made similar dog park expenditures. She also noted the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau promotes the Holmes Beach dog park as tourist amenity.
Anna Maria resident Nicky Hunt said she’s visited the dog park almost daily for the past five years.
“While I appreciate the facility, in truth it is a sad sight and not something the Island should be proud of. It would appear that almost no money has been spent maintaining it, let alone improving it,” she said.
Hunt questioned whether the mayor, commissioners and city staff members ever use the dog park and she said they should listen to those who do.
Regarding the recent tree plantings, Hunt said, “We were given small trees and told nothing bigger was available. I find that hard to be true when you only have to look at the trees being brought in by the landscapers doing the ‘McMansions.’ We ask you to work with us. We want and deserve a beautiful park.”
She also noted dogs aren’t allowed on the Island beaches.
Anna Maria resident Tom Evans said, “We just want a seat at the table. We don’t see any plans in place and we would like to work with you guys so everybody can be happy. I really hate the fact that Longboat Key has a beautiful dog park and we don’t.”
City officials comment
Whitmore said the commission needs to know how much the city currently spends on the dog park and dog park expenditures should be included as specific line items in next year’s budget. She also suggested forming a citizen-led, non-profit organization to raise funds for the dog park.
“We have to have a plan,” she added.
Schaefer said it makes sense to listen to the dog park users and he noted some of the city’s other recreational amenities were funded by donations.
Oelfke said he wants the city to have an excellent dog park and there needs to be a plan and city funding for it. Patel agreed and said dog park users helped fund the original dog park and they shouldn’t be asked to do it again.
Diggins said the dog park users and the Parks and Beautification Committee members should devise a plan to present for commission consideration.
“I 100% don’t agree,” Whitmore responded. “We set the budget. We’re the ones that set policy. We haven’t had a chance to listen to the citizens of the dog park. When I went there the other day, I thought it looked terrible. I hadn’t been there in years.”
Whitmore said the dog park users’ differing demands and requests pull the mayor in several different directions.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said the city has responded to many dog park user requests. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Titsworth said some dog park users want grass and others want sand. She said the irrigation system for the large dog area was recently modified so it’s now completely independent of the baseball field irrigation system. She said irrigation to the baseball field and the dog park were cut off when City Field served as a hurricane debris collection site after the 2024 hurricanes. She now wants to see if the repaired irrigation system helps the existing dog park grass recover.
“We are in our dormant season for grass. If I resod that whole field, that dog park’s going to be closed for season,” Titsworth said. “If it doesn’t recover with the irrigation and the fertilizer, we will relook at it and see if we can find some money to resod it.”
She noted FEMA paid to resod the areas damaged while serving as a hurricane debris staging site.
Holmes Beach resident Mike Deal is a frequent dog park user.- Joe Hendricks | Sun
Regarding the new dog park trees, Titsworth said the city bought the biggest and most appropriate trees available.
Titsworth said when the dog park concerns were recently brought to her attention, she placed it on the agenda for the Parks and Beautification Committee’s next meeting; and the dog park will remain on the committee meeting agendas until the majority of the dog park users are satisfied.
In response to previous requests, Titsworth said the city placed concrete pads under the benches and relocated some benches, expanded the dog washing area and ensured the dugouts had electricity and fans.
HOLMES BEACH – It’s been months in the making, but users still aren’t much closer to seeing improvements at the city’s dog park.
Members of the Parks and Beautification Committee held a special meeting to discuss priority projects for the dog park renovation with the public. While decisions were confirmed on fencing, entrances and plantings, other ideas – including a slight enlargement of the park – were dismissed in favor of allowing city commissioners to make the final determination.
Committee members agreed to keep the fence separating the small and large dog parks where pets and pet parents can see through it. They also confirmed votes to change out the exterior fencing to vinyl-coated chain link, add two entries with pavers to each park with push button locking mechanisms and place pavers underneath benches to discourage digging.
They changed a vote from the previous month, favoring filtered water bottle fillers and raised bowl stands for dogs over an earlier decision to insert a water fountain in each side of the park.
Committee member Dennis Groh presented an updated landscaping plan with short cocoplum trees around the perimeter of the park and the addition of trees in the large dog park to allow more shade. Dog park user Don Anthony suggested planting the trees near the fence line to allow dogs to run freely.
City Engineer Lynn Burnett addresses drainage concerns from committee members and dog park users. – Kristin Swain | Sun
With the addition of the trees, committee members voted out an earlier decision to add sun shades to the park. Instead, they agreed to reconsider the sun shades if it’s found more shade is needed. No firm decision was made concerning ground cover for the park.
Dog park users spoke out against planting the cocoplum trees along the fencing facing Flotilla Drive, citing a safety concern of not being able to see in or out of the park clearly. Committee members overruled the dog park users present during the meeting with Groh stating the plantings are needed to help block sound and soften the look for residential neighbors.
City Engineer Lynn Burnett was on hand to discuss drainage for the park. Before she can create a plan to help lessen water retention, she said a firm master design plan is needed to allow for any additional storm water runoff that may be created.
Rather than just having a water hose, committee members agreed to install filtered water bottle fillers in both sides of the dog park. – Kristin Swain | Sun
One item dog park users and committee members agreed on is the reduction of sign pollution in the park. With new, large signs warning of the rules of the park recently installed, users asked if some signs could be removed, particularly from the interior of wooden shelters where the signs block airflow. Committee members agreed to find out what signs were legally required for dog park operation and see if some others could be removed.
Committee members agreed to move forward with the creation of a master plan for the park with the hope of presenting to city commissioners for approval in May.
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