Doggy park elicits howls - St. Petersburg Times

ST. PETERSBURG — The City Council could take the first step toward turning a vacant acre under Interstate 275 into a vibrant, community dog park today.

But the $171,284 price tag — nearly six times the usual cost — has one council member howling.

In these tough economic times, "that's too much for a dog park," said council member Wengay Newton. "I'm not against dog parks. I'm against building monuments to yourself. That's what's happening there."

The park is the brainchild of council member Jeff Danner, who has been trying for nearly three years to turn the idea into reality. He plans to ask the council today to set aside funding.

"This one will probably be the most centrally located we've got, and it takes an unsightly field next to the interstate that's been a place for homeless people and illegal dumping," Danner said. "Now, we have a chance to clean it up."

A majority of council members said at a committee meeting last week that they would support the park. Newton and Council member Bill Dudley opposed the project, citing the cost and the city's ongoing financial woes. Most of the city's five dog parks have cost about $30,000.

The park would be in Historic Kenwood under Interstate 275 at 20th Street N between Fifth and Fourth avenues. It will cost so much because the stretch of land, owned by the Department of Transportation, needs to be fenced and equipped with benches, waste bins and a parking lot.

"The other dog parks were added to existing parkland," Danner said. "We are creating a brand-new park in an unused, unsightly area."

The park would be financed with money from the city's Weeki Wachee Fund, which can be used only for recreation and beautification projects. More than $2.1-million of the fund has been spent on projects such as skate parks and the Vinoy Basin Boardwalk.

The council must also set aside money to cover 10 years of maintenance expenses for all Weeki Wachee projects. It's unclear how much that will cost on top of the park's price tag. The fund is made up of $14.4-million earned from the sale of a 440-acre recreation area in Hernando County in 2001.

Comments on this article

by Albert	Sep 8, 2008 1:12 PM
Homeless rates are up the nation knows that St. Pete has this major problem yet does nothing but ignore and relocate it. We spend thousands on grand prix n making our city look good but everyone can see through to the dirty secrets we keep, b ashamed

by Annie	Sep 8, 2008 1:12 PM
What a waste this is another you scatch my back I scratch yours deal where favors are being done goodbye tax money this money could be used for something better than another dog park and Nancy is asking the right questions that no one is willing to

by barbara	Sep 6, 2008 3:03 PM
This is great use for this land. It's about time that something's done with it. Nancy, get a clue and get involved. Or just read the article!

by Politocutter	Sep 5, 2008 11:42 AM
Wake up people. The money is there. What is lacking is the political will. Someone has their eyes on this spot of land for some other form of development. Probably a develpment that will line their back pockets, Times, do some digging!

by Kenwood Resident	Sep 4, 2008 9:33 PM
How about the residents do most of the work by landscaping, adding the fence, and the benches. They did a great job in the other park and the street corners let them help save some money. Danner is a carpenter lets get him off his butt and help

by pops	Sep 4, 2008 9:33 PM
THANKS AGAIN, DO NOTHING FOR THE TAX PAYING COUNCIL MEMBERS. WAIT TILL ELECTION TIME. ANOTHER REASON TO GET A NEW COUNCIL.

by pops	Sep 4, 2008 6:01 PM
THANKS AGAIN, DO NOTHING FOR THE TAX PAYING COUNCIL MEMBERS. WAIT TILL ELECTION TIME. ANOTHER REASON TO GET A NEW COUNCIL.

by Pete	Sep 4, 2008 5:43 PM
The Weeki Wachee funsds is a joke. I remember once the council said they would use this money to help keep water rates down for the residents of the city. They instead just raised our rates after telling us to save water. At least midtown won't get i

by Bill	Sep 4, 2008 5:13 PM
What a waste this doggie part will become another homeless park. Nice idea just wrong place. So how many folks walk their dogs down there now? NONE Let the folks from Kenwood do the relandscaping, adding benches etc and the cost is cheaper

by Frankie	Sep 4, 2008 5:06 PM
This is going to improve that area. Yes it's expensive, but the money has to be used on parks so they might as well invest in making a blighted area better. Kenwood residents will benefit from having a buffer to the homeless camp on 5th. Thanks Jeff.

by Bruce	Sep 4, 2008 10:55 AM
This sounds like a boon to this area of the city. With the Weeki Wachee funding in place, this should not be a big deal from the financial perspective.

by Bert	Sep 4, 2008 10:55 AM
As an avid lover, I am appalled at Mr. Danner's proposal. It is far better to walk your dog on a leash than it is to sit on your seat while you watch your dog exercise. Exercise with your dog and lose a few pounds yourself.

by Kenwood Resident	Sep 4, 2008 10:55 AM
This intersection has been an eyesore forever. The residents have worked hard to increase the values of the properties here. What is wrong with the local government kicking in?

by Kenneth	Sep 4, 2008 10:55 AM
I appreciate the councilman's concern regarding cost, but I think this would be a good investment that would help clean-up this part of town, and would help to push degenerates out of St. Pete.

by Nancy	Sep 4, 2008 10:54 AM
Why does the city of SP have a Weeki Wachee Fund? Isn't that in another county? And why are "we" spending it on other things? Are we borrowing from the fund? What's the payback rate? No wonder city budgets are all f'd up! Who are these people??

by Jeff	Sep 4, 2008 10:54 AM
And does the parking lot have to be paved? Can't it be made of sand or maybe stones? That has got to be cheaper than paving.

by Jeff	Sep 4, 2008 10:54 AM
I understand pavement costs like a billion dollars to pave 2 inches these days (ridiculous) but how in the world can fencing cost that much? Are they putting up 14 carat gold planks for the fence?

by Joe	Sep 4, 2008 10:54 AM
Wengay Newton is without a clue. This project is a win-win-win. The funds have been ear marked and the land is available. Newton and Dudley need to think about the future and be sure that our money is spent in an effort to improve the city.

by LittleBro	Sep 4, 2008 10:54 AM
It's cheap. The total cost of the park is a little more than what we spend in 30 SECONDS in Iraq.

by Greg	Sep 4, 2008 10:54 AM
Spend the money on the park. It is only a drop in the bucket in comparison to the incentives given to some corporations within the city. Continue to increase the quality of life of St Pete residents through parks and recreation opportunities.

by James	Sep 4, 2008 10:54 AM
This is STUPID, Danner and the rest are crazy, once you lay out the 200k where are you going to run the homeless to? Cant this money be used for something more than a toliet for dogs? are all government workers/politicians missing a few screws? crazy

by Kris	Sep 4, 2008 10:53 AM
Okay, so the funding must be used for Parks. A dog park is a park for dogs true, but it is also a park for the families that own dogs. I would much rather see a family playing with their dog than the usual vagrants begging for money at that spot

by john	Sep 4, 2008 10:53 AM
If they want a dog park in Kenwood, how about sectioning a part of the park on 3rd Ave N and 30th Street. .

by Lisa	Sep 4, 2008 10:53 AM
I refuse to take my dogs to local dog parks. They are overrun with pit bulls and owners who don't watch their pets. It's too bad these people and their dogs ruin a good thing for everybody else.

by DogParker	Sep 4, 2008 10:02 AM
Wengay Newton needs to rethink this. His district needs dog parks for all the residents who can't walk their dogs because of drug dealing and unaltered pitbulls with heartworms running around off leash. Unless you're spending it on patrols, be quiet.

by Amanda	Sep 4, 2008 10:02 AM
I balked at the price tag until I read those funds had to be used this way anyway. That area could really use a cleanup, and better a dog park than skate park. (Nothing against skaters, but which would more people use?)

by jason	Sep 4, 2008 10:02 AM
Do we really need to spend <$100k to have a place for people to let their dogs poop? Why not relax restrictions on such criminal activity, while at the same time not calling it a 'dog park'?