Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Dog owners chasing park idea

Some residents in Bloomingdale East are working to raise funding for a dog park where their pets can run free.

Life hasn't been quite as carefree for Brittany Lee since September, when her family moved to Bloomingdale East from Ocala.

The shallow ponds, tires and fire hydrants that Brittany enjoyed in the 15-acre Gainesville dog park near Ocala are nowhere to be found in her new neighborhood.

But things could start looking up for the 21/2-year-old cocker spaniel and the hundreds of other dogs that live in Bloomingdale's nearly 5,000 homes.

Residents and leaders of the homeowners association want to put a dog park on 1.5 acres off Springvale Drive, between Bloomingdale Avenue and Nature's Way Boulevard. They estimate the land, which backs up to 33 acres of county-owned conservation land, will cost $2,500.

"That's 34 acres where they could run," said Steve Heckel, a member of the homeowners association board of directors. "You could run horses on all that land!"

It would cost another $3,000 to put fences and other amenities on the site, Heckel said.

To raise the money, organizers are planning a "family portrait" event for this summer, where families can have pictures taken with their dogs. Already, 20 residents want to serve on a committee to make the dog park dream happen. Another 70 or so are offering to donate time or money, Heckel said.

"Just go out to Nature's Way every night, and you see all those people walking their dogs," said Jane Lee. "We need this, and the dogs would just love it."

Parks and recreation spokesman John Brill cautioned that residents shouldn't get too excited too fast, considering his department shaved 3 percent off its budget for the upcoming year. Included in the cuts were two proposed county-run dog parks.

The county already has two: West Park near Leto High School in western Hillsborough, and the Mango Dog Park near Seffner. The city of Tampa has a dog park at Al Lopez Park on Himes Avenue. Across the country, dog parks are quickly becoming a standard community feature.

"If there's a group that wants to work with us, and raise the money, it's definitely a possibility," Brill said. "We understand they're popular, and there's a need. But with the budget the way it is, we're more focused on trying to upgrade and keep what we've got."

Until then, Brittany Lee will have to make do with the sidewalks and grass along Nature's Way Boulevard.

- Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler can be reached at 661-2443 or svansickler@sptimes.com