After 8 years, Lakeland finally commits to downtown dog park near Lake Mirror

Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger
·3 min read
1
Lakeland commissioners approved a contract Monday worth about $282,000 with Lakeland-based Rodda Construction to create a dog park at 145 N. Lake Ave., across from Lakeland Fire Department's main station.
Lakeland commissioners approved a contract Monday worth about $282,000 with Lakeland-based Rodda Construction to create a dog park at 145 N. Lake Ave., across from Lakeland Fire Department's main station.

LAKELAND ― After eight years of debate, Lakeland's dogs will finally have a place to lie in the sun downtown.

City commissioners unanimously approved a $282,897 contract with Lakeland-based Rodda Construction to build a dog park at 145 N. Lake Ave. It's across the street from Lakeland Fire Station 1, south of Citrus Connection's park-and-ride lot.

The 1.8-acre parcel was quit-claim deeded from the Florida Department of Transportation to Lakeland in 2021. It's currently a grassy area that serves as a retention pond.

"We're excited, this has been going on a long time," Pam Page, the city's deputy director of parks, recreation and cultural arts said. "There's such a bevy of apartment complexes within a two-block radius, it will be heavily utilized."

Proposed plans for the dog park have drastically changed since its conception. The earliest images of the park included AstroTurf, which in January 2020 was replaced with a cheaper synthetic material similar to what's used in the warning track of Tigertown's baseball field.

When construction bids came back at $660,000, more than double the project's anticipated cost, several changes were made.

Lakeland commissioners approved a contract Monday with Rodda Construction to build a dog park at 145 N. Lake Ave., east of Fire Station Road. The 1.18-acre park will include dog sculptures, a water fountain, waste station and dog wash station for pet owners to utilize.
Lakeland commissioners approved a contract Monday with Rodda Construction to build a dog park at 145 N. Lake Ave., east of Fire Station Road. The 1.18-acre park will include dog sculptures, a water fountain, waste station and dog wash station for pet owners to utilize.

The project was moved slightly south and was refined, eliminating artificial grass. Plans call for installation of a 6-foot decorative fence with six entry gates, dog sculptures, boulder retaining walls and concrete sidewalks. The park will offer pet owners amenities including a dog water fountain, a waste station and a dog wash station.

There will not be separate areas for large dogs versus smaller breeds, Page said.

Commissioner Mike Musick asked how the current retention pond will function as a dog park, given the area tends to absorb runoff stormwater.

Page said it will serve a dual purpose, as the area only tends to fill with water a few times per year during major rain events. City staff will have the option to close the park if it is significantly flooded, Page said, similar to how it temporarily stops use of its soccer or athletic fields after heavy rain.

City Manager Shawn Sherrouse said there's an upland area along the perimeter of the property that may allow a portion to stay open even if other parts are flooded.

Page did not share the proposed name of the downtown dog park with commissioners at Friday's agenda study.

"We have a very creative name that communications is helping us with the logo that we will then copyright," she said. "Our most creative ideas these days we have to copyright."

The city previously threw around the name "Central Bark" but later found out there were copyright issues.

Lakeland's downtown dog park is slated to include dog sculptures, possibly similar to those pictured here, City Manager Shawn Sherrouse told commissioners.
Lakeland's downtown dog park is slated to include dog sculptures, possibly similar to those pictured here, City Manager Shawn Sherrouse told commissioners.

Page offered a tidbit of local history that might hold a clue to the park's future name.

"The little dog who was considered 'The Mayor of Lakeland,' his name was Sparky," she said. "His owners started raising money to fund the dog park."

The project will be funded with $126,155 from Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency's Downtown CRA Funds for Lake Mirror promenade maintenance, $100,000 from the Public Improvement Fund due to sale of land to The Joinery, $50,000 from the Public Improvement Fund's park and recreation fees, and $6,742 in community donations.

Rodda Construction has 90 days to begin construction on the park with an estimated completion in nine months, or approximately September 2024.

Roundabout's only half the issue What to do about the problematic Sloan Avenue bridge?

While the park is under construction, Lakeland has three dog parks that pet owners can visit with their furry, four-legged friends:

  • Cook Park Dog Park, 955 Wedgewood Estates Blvd., open from dawn to dusk.

  • Dog Leg Woods Dog Park, 3326 Cleveland Heights Blvd., open from dawn to dusk.

  • Lake Crago Dog Park, 525 Lake Crago Drive, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. except Wednesday, when it opens at 9 a.m.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland approves contract to build downtown dog park near Lake Mirror