News

By Sallie James
    
    Another small part of Boca Raton is going to the dogs — little dogs, to be exact — and city officials couldn’t be happier.
    A compact dog park, at 131 S. Federal Highway, has opened adjacent to Camden Boca Raton apartments under an agreement City Council members approved on Jan. 13.
    There is no canine size limit, but the gated and fenced park is tiny —  about 80 feet by 20 feet, and is on an unused portion of city-owned right-of-way, near Dixie Highway and adjacent to the western edge of Camden Boca.
    A requirement of the deal? A revocable license agreement with Camden Summit Partnership L.P. indemnifying the city from any liability that might occur during construction, maintenance or use of the dog park. The park creates no costs for the city.
    “It’s a great example of the city working together with private ownership,” Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie said.  “The park fits on an unused road right of way. (Camden) has improved it basically for their residents, but it is open to the public so anyone downtown can enjoy it with their dogs.”
    The miniature dog park is fenced and gated, with a litter bag dispenser and benches.
    The Camden dog park is the city’s latest offering for dogs. Boca Raton also has the Mizner Bark Dog Park at 751 Banyan Trail, and Bark Beach, at 301 N. Ocean Blvd., at Spanish River Park.
    The city obtained the parcel of land in 1964 for future widening of Dixie Highway but in 50 years, nothing was done. The Metropolitan Planning Organization also has no plans to widen Dixie Highway south of Palmetto Park Road, according to a memo from Boca Raton City Manager Leif Ahnell. He said in his memo that a landscaped dog park in the area would be a significant improvement and asset to the area.