Dog's romps curbed at park

The city will issue warnings to owners who don't leash their dogs. The park has had problems with water contamination.

At Cypress Point Park, dogs romp unfettered along a quarter-mile ribbon of sand and surf.

Dog lovers call it one of the city's best-kept secrets.

The only problem is, it's not a secret to the city.

Parks officials posted signs last month making it clear dogs must be "leashed and poop scooped."

So far, the city hasn't stepped up enforcement, but in coming months, dog owners can expect verbal warnings and directions to "where the other dog parks are," said parks director Ross Ferlita.

Among the reasons: human health.

Health officials are repeatedly posting the beach with signs warning people not to swim in the water. They've flagged it seven times since last summer, including five since January. The warnings typically stay up four or five days.

The problem: high levels of bacteria that could make swimmers sick.

The source: Nobody knows.

But some speculate dog feces are contributing. And the parks department isn't taking chances.

Beyond the health threat, Cypress Point was never intended to be a dog park, Ferlita said.

"It's not in the master plan," he said.

The city bought the 43-acre parcel in 1996 with Hillsborough County conservation funds. Now, a slew of improvements are on their way, including new parking, picnic shelters and trails.

None of those changes cater to canines.

Dog owners don't seem to mind. They like the park just the way it is.

"This is my favorite spot to take the dogs," said Alex Shreve, a Seminole Heights resident who played Frisbee at the park last week with his Australian shepherds, Abby and Jake.

Shreve said he wasn't too worried about a crackdown; he brings leashes with him.

But his dogs will be disappointed.

"They could care less about a sunset," he said. "They want to be in the water."

Dog owners can unleash their pets at designated areas at Al Lopez Park or on Davis Islands, but many say those sites don't compare to briny, breezy Cypress Point.

At Davis Islands, "I know at least four people that have had their dogs cut their paws on a piece of glass or something," Shreve said.

City officials know dog parks are in high demand.

For what it's worth, new ones are coming.

One will open at Gadsden Park, in Ballast Point, next week. Another is expected to open at Rowlett Park, in Sulphur Springs, next year.

In Port Tampa, supporters of a plan to revamp the Spanish-American War Memorial Park are seeking to add a dog area, too.

Any chance dogs will be accommodated at Cypress Point?

If dog owners hope so, "I think they're hoping wrong," Ferlita said.

- Ron Matus can be reached at 226-3405 or matus@sptimes.com