- February 7, 2025
-
-
Loading
Loading
The expansion of the dog park at Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park in Ormond-By-The-Sea was adamantly shot down by the majority of the approximate 70 people that attended Volusia County's public meeting, redirecting the county instead to use funds to improve the amenities already in place in the four-acre dog park.
Parks, Recreation and Culture Director Tim Baylie spearheaded the meeting, periodically asking the audience for a show of hands in favor of different ideas for the dog park. From the beginning, the residents were outspoken in their dismissal of a possible expansion, citing habitat concerns and the loss of the wildlife trail that the expansion would cause.
"If the room says, 'nope, we're not interested in that,' I take that back to the county manager," Baylie said.
Former biologist Charles Dutrois said the park is part of gopher tortoise habitat, and expanding the dog park would destroy it. He added the mowing that has already been done in the park is in violation of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's rules, which he called in to the agency.
"There's already four acres for the dog park," Dutrois said. "We're going to give additional acreage and destroy a habitat for a protected species? That's the choice."
His statement garnered cheers and applause among the residents. Baylie then realized the people did not want an expansion, but stressed the county had been working with the FWC and that there has been no violation in what has been done to date in the park.
The meeting was then steered toward other improvements the county could perform in the park, including more seating, shade and landscaping.
"I'm here to listen to your comments," Baylie said. "If you notice, I'm your friend here. I mean, you asked me to build some things for you, you asked me to build some amenities for you, you asked me to do some nice things out here — I believe I've done that and I believe that I was doing this in your best interest because of the large amount of dogs we have using the facility."
