It’s hard to imagine our island without a dog
park. Multi-million dollar deals have been transacted
there. Some of the most important issues
regarding the island are disseminated there – and
the dogs like it, too. While The Gasparilla Inn will
be using the existing 7th street park for a new
project, Lee County has plans for a new dog park
to be created at the end of Wheeler Road. That’s
the road just past 1st Street, across from the
Gasparilla Island Light.
While funding plans are still tentative, Lee
County has given the “go ahead” for the land
where the baseball diamond is currently located
to be used for the dog park. It would be a twobay
park, with one for little dogs and one for big
dogs. Animal waste disposal stations will be
available at the park, as the county strongly
encourages all pet owners to pick up after their
animals. They even have a campaign to this effect,
called “Please remember to attend to the doo!
DoYourDuty.org.”
Dogs let off-leash in the confines of the fenced
area must behave themselves with other dogs and
people. They are not allowed to “act in a threatening
By Marcy Shortuse • Photos from “BGDP Puparazzi”
or menacing manner,” and must not be permitted
to destroy park property. Dogs must be
accompanied by an adult at all times while offleash
in the fenced area, and they must be wearing
a collar with a valid rabies license. Puppies under
four months of age and female dogs in heat are
not allowed. Children under 5 are not be allowed
in the fenced-in areas.
In late April of this year a party was held at The
Gasparilla Inn & Club to thank Will and Sarah
Farish for their generosity in allowing their property
to be used as a dog park for so many years.
As some may remember, the beautiful field on
the Gulf of Mexico was used primarily for a
soccer field for quite some time. Eventually, fewer
soccer players and more dog lovers used the park,
and a few years ago the Farish family had the
property fenced in for the safety of the dogs who
went there. At the party, it was reported that an
anonymous donor planned to help fund the new
dog park.
While many have joked about it over the years,
Boca Grande’s 7th Street dog park was, more than
likely, the most expensive dog park in the country.
/DoYourDuty.org