The Dog Park had a ‘ruff’ beginning, but it’s back on track!
Boca Grande community members are invited to join Lee County officials at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 28, for a ribbon cutting and sneak peek at Lee County Parks & Recreation’s soon-to-open dog park on Wheeler Road.
The specific opening date for the Wheeler Road Community Dog Park is yet to be announced. But the ribbon cutting will allow visitors to look around at amenities that are complete and will feature renderings and additional visuals so the community will know more about how the park will look when it officially opens. The county is planning the ceremony several weeks prior to Easter so that seasonal residents as well as year-round residents can attend.
The event will include comments from Lee County Commissioners.
Free parking is available on site. Attendees coming from the mainland are reminded that there is a $6 bridge toll onto Gasparilla Island.
Once the site opens, hours will be dawn to dusk. Amenities will include:
• Dog wash area with spigot
• Bicycle rack
• Drinking fountain with canine drinking fountain
• Pavilions
• Moveable chairs
• Entry pens
• Large dog off-leash area
• Small dog off-leash area
• Dog waste stations
Completion of the park was delayed by Hurricane Ian, and the site then was used as a debris site. It is being restored to its pre-storm condition by the contractor.
Part of the money used to clean up the site after Hurricane island debris was placed there was donated by the Boca Grande Disaster Relief Fund.
The restrooms, ballfields and other amenities remain closed due to storm damage. The tennis courts on the other side of Wheeler Road, though, were opened to the public on February 27.
For more information on available amenities, visit the Park Progress Map tool at leeparks.org.
The Wheeler Road Community Dog Park will be the newest dog park in the county’s system. For other dog-park locations and to watch a video about how to be a good dog-park patron, visit leegov.com/parks/dog-parks.
