By Jane Smith
Commissioner Joe Casello thinks the time has come for Boynton Beach to allow dogs on its beach.
“We’ve taken our dog up to the Jupiter beach and he really loves it,” Casello said. “There’s nothing close by.” His family has a Cairn terrier, Charlie.
The closest dog beach is about 13 miles away in Boca Raton’s Spanish River Park. There, at Bark Beach, dogs are limited to Friday through Sunday on early mornings and late afternoons. A permit is required for each dog, and Boca Raton residents receive a reduced rate.
At Jupiter Beach, about 30 miles north of Boynton Beach, no permits are required for the 2.5- mile length of the beach. Friends of Jupiter Beach runs the dog beach and its website reads, “Well-behaved dogs and their conscientious owners are welcome.”
Boynton Beach city commissioners agreed Aug. 1 to have the city manager talk to Ocean Ridge staff.
“To be a good neighbor,” Casello said.
Ocean Ridge police patrol Oceanfront Park, so their input is needed, he said.
Mayor Steven Grant said he supported the idea, suggesting something similar to what Jacksonville Beach has: limited hours outside of the beach’s most popular time of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Casello said many details have to be worked out, including hours, which section of the beach, whether passes will be sold to raise money for dog waste containers, whether dogs can be off-leash and other such issues.
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