Dogs, owners keep an eye on park progress

CLEARWATER -- The facelift at at Crest Lake Park has begun.

Tails are wagging.

Bulldozers have leveled the Park Lake Motel, bought by the city last summer to make way for green space and perhaps to add public art on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard.

But many await a promised dog park there.

Construction on the dog park should wrap up by the end of the year. With a ribbon cutting planned Feb. 1, it's difficult to tell which group is more anxious: pooches or their people.

Earlier this month, Caryn Drexl and Brianna Mewborn just couldn't wait. They took Rowan, their 6-month-old Australian Shepherd-beagle mix, for a sneak peek.

The verdict?

Outstanding, judging by Rowan's frantic darting and sniffing.

"She loves other dogs," Mewborn said. "She just hasn't been around many."

Before the park gets crowded, Drexl and Mewborn hope to bring Rowan up to speed. They don't want a repeat of her jarring first visit to a dog park in Largo.

"It freaked her out a little," said Mewborn. "We're hoping to socialize her more."

The dog park sits in the southwest corner of Crest Lake Park on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard near Highland Avenue. It will have three fenced areas for different-sized dogs to play, said Kevin Dunbar, city parks and recreation director. The park will feature double-gated entrance areas, allowing owners to remove their dogs' leashes before opening the second gate into the play areas.

Doggy-size drinking fountains and an irrigation system have been installed to keep the park looking -- and smelling -- nice. There will be water to rinse off dogs' paws before leaving.

Dunbar said five fire hydrants are planned to decorate the grounds.

There are changes for people, too.

The Crest Lake Park playground has moved to a more central location, closer to restroom facilities, and a cul-de-sac is planned at the end of S Glenwood Avenue. Dunbar said the cul-de-sac will cut off access to congested Gulf-to-Bay and provide more parking for the long-anticipated dog park.

Dunbar said the city is also considering installing a new trail system throughout the park.

-- Jennifer Farrell can be reached at 445-4160 or farrell@sptimes.com ">farrell@sptimes.com .

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