Dogs may soon be allowed in Winter Park's Central Park

Dogs owned by Winter Park residents may be allowed to roam the grounds of Central Park twice a year as a result of a new city ordinance – adding to the city’s history of dog controversy spanning several years.

Winter Park City Commissioners voted unanimously during last Monday’s City Commission meeting to approve the first reading of the ordinance that allows dogs in Central Park for special events, also voting by a count of 4-1 to limit the park to only two dog events each year.

The new ordinance would tweak the current law that prohibits dogs in the 7-acre park, an ordinance set in place back in 2006 under former Mayor Ken Marchman.

But some Commissioners disagreed with the change, reasoning that the park should be left as a place for just residents to enjoy.

“We have 298 acres of parks, we have 17 acres of off-leash parks, and I believe dogs are allowed in all of our parks,” Commissioner Carolyn Cooper said.

“I just think it’s OK to say that Central Park is different.”

The new ordinance would give City Manager Randy Knight the task of approving the two events that allow dogs each year. Applicants wishing to host an event would have to submit reasons why the dogs will be there, as well as a detailed description of how the dogs will be contained within the park.

This troubled Commissioner Sarah Sprinkel, who thought the ordinance gave the city manager too much discretion.

“Who knows who’s always going to be our city manager,” Sprinkel said. “I’m glad it’s Randy, but what if we get somebody in there with 500 dogs, so you have to be really careful about who you give that decision to.”

Commissioner Steven Leary said that he supported the ordinance as long as event staff kept the park clean.

“I don’t have a problem with this,” Leary said. “My only concern is follow up; I want to make sure that the park is pristine after the event is over.

Issues regarding dogs along the Park Avenue corridor have sprung up several times in recent years.

In 2010, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board sought to ban permits that allowed dog-centered events along the Avenue, including the Pet Costume Contest put on by local company The Doggie Door. Members of the board explained that participants continued to bring their dogs in Central Park, despite the active ordinance banning pets.

The Board sent a letter to the City Commission later that year requesting the ban, but was met with disdain from the City Commissioners, who saw the request for the ban as “predatory.”

The City Commission rejected the recommendation, and asked the board to come up with a potential amendment to the animal ordinance instead, only to vote down an ordinance two months later that would have banned dogs along the Avenue during events that blocked-off the street.

But emotions ran high once again on Monday as several residents spoke against the new ordinance, fearing for the integrity of Central Park.

“The mayor frequently refers to Central Park as ‘The Jewel,’ as do many other residents,” Bonnie Jackson said. “People deserve one space that is just for them, a green space where people can picnic, read a book, throw a Frisbee, or watch a movie or a jazz concert without worrying about sitting in or stepping in waste left by a dog.”

“Please don’t turn our crown jewel into a porta-potty.”

Other residents raised concerns of health hazards from dogs defecating in the park – a bad combination with the numerous events where residents lay in the grass, Mary Randall said.

“I don’t like the thought of having to put a blanket down to go to an event on top of some place where people may have picked up after a dog,” Randall said.

“That doesn’t mean it’s clean and sanitary.”

Commissioners decided that the twice-a-year limit on dog events made sense, but how the city plans to restrict dogs while they’re in the park remains to be seen.

The ordinance will go for final approval before the City Commission on Sept. 23.