The article entitled “Friends of Vero Beach Dog Exercise Area, Making Our Case” In the October 16, 2013 edition of Inside Vero states that unlike other municipalities like Sebastian and Fort Pierce , the City of Vero Beach has no publically funded dog park.   The article mentions the unfenced, dog friendly, field on the beachside, (just across Beachland Boulevard from Riverside Park) but discounts it as a bonafide dog park because of its lack of amenities calling it instead a place “where dog owners have been given squatters rights.”

The article does not make mention of the only dog park on the mainland located behind the bleachers at Michael Field, just north of the Elk’s Club on 12^th Avenue.  This dog park, like its’ beachside counterpart has minimal amenities i.e. no chairs, no benches, little to no shade, and no signage at the street.

While many know about the beachside “dog park” few know about the one at Michael Field.  I think it is time to not only provide some amenities for both parks but it is also time to rethink the dog park at Michael Field since, as rumor has it, Michael Field is not being used by the little league anymore.

If this is the case, then I propose that we look at the entire Michael Field property to determine if the site we already have works or there is another part of that property that would work better as a dog park.

Dog parks are the fastest growing recreational activity in public parks because there are now more dogs per capita than children in the USA.  Simply put, there is a need for both sites to be properly equipped and signposted as dog parks.  Residents of Vero Beach deserve a place to bring their dogs to romp and play with other dogs.

It is our intention to research the Michael Field site and make public our proposed plan for the Michael Field Dog Park in a future issue of Inside Vero.

Florence J. Licata