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Hernando Today

County's First Dog Park Ready To Open

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: January 17, 2009

SPRING HILL - Dog lovers: The opening of your park is only two weeks away.

Four-and-a-half years after it was envisioned, Rotary Centennial Park will debut to canines and humans alike Saturday, Jan. 31.

And organizers are definitely putting on the dog to make this event special - up to and including refreshments.

The grand opening is from 10 a.m. to noon and the county has invited representatives from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society.

Parks Director Pat Fagan said there will also be greyhounds on display.

Add the throngs of curiosity seekers to Hernando County's first dog park and the place should be packed, Fagan said.

"I look for that park to be full to capacity on that morning," Fagan said.
Fagan is also inviting all the business owners and individuals who donated money or in-kind services for the creation of the park to attend.

The eight-acre park is bounded by Sandlor Street, Portillo Road and Landover Boulevard.

The Jan. 31 opening was made possible because of a funding arrangement between the Rotary Club of Spring Hill Central and the county.

Parks and recreation staffers went to county commissioners and got approval for additional funding through impact fees in the amount of $25,000 to be loaned to the Rotary Club to complete phase one of the project, which is the dog park.

But thanks to recent donations, including $10,000 from The Home Depot, Fagan said the Rotary Club only had to borrow $7,500 from the county.

In keeping with the theme of the park, Fagan said he intends to periodically invite veterinarians and dog trainers to stop by and offer animal inoculations and other programs.
Fagan remembers when the Rotary Club broached the idea of a dog park four-and-a-half years ago. At the time, he told members the venture would be costly and fundraising difficult.

Throw in a lousy economic climate the past two years and the project seemed even more daunting, he said.

But the funding arrangement and outpouring of donations helped make the dream a reality, he said.

Josh Kelly, president of the Rotary Club of Spring Hill Central, said he met with some resistance from residents when they learned of the proposed dog park.

They worried about smells and dog fights once their animals shed their leashes.

But when Kelly and his members explained that other community dog parks posed no such problems, the opposition waned and donations started coming in, he said.

And once he explained the dog park would only be one phase of a larger park and that phase two would have playground and sports amenities, the idea picked up steam.

That part of Landover is ideal for this park, he said, because there is a lack of play space for children.

For many dog owners, their dogs are their children and have been longing for a place like this, he said.

"I believe most of the dog owners started to realize that if they didn't help us do this, the park would not be done," Kelly said.

The opening of the dog park is only phase one of Rotary Centennial Park. Phase two will consist of picnic shelters, a basketball and volleyball court and other amenities.

Kelly doesn't know when phase two will open but he does expect an even greater outpouring of money going forward.

"It's not just a dog park, and that's what we have to remember," Kelly said. "It's for everybody."

What to expect

The dog park will have three separate enclosures: One for large dogs, one for small- to medium-sized dogs and one for service dogs so people can stay with their animals.

The dogs will be allowed to run freely in the enclosures.

If people are more comfortable keeping their animals leashed, there is a dog walk area.

When the park first opens, Fagan said it will be closely supervised to make sure people are keeping their dogs under control and cleaning up their pet's messes.

Want to see your business up in lights?

Well, if not lights, how about a visible spot in one of the local parks, including the soon-to-open Rotary Centennial Park?

The county is now selling advertisements to businesses to erect a 4-foot by 8-foot sign at park sites. The business gets to promote their products and the county offsets its general fund budget.

So far, parks Director Pat Fagan said the recreation department has sold about six signs and raised close to $2,400.

The signs sell for $400 per field per year but special rates are available.

For more information, call the Hernando County Parks and Recreation Department at 754-4031.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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