Bill Hodges photo
Kings Point Dog Lover’s Club President Nancy McGinnis updated members at a Feb. 25 meeting on progress toward their ambitious undertaking — a new dog park. McGinnis is the driving force working for a park that would be more accessible to Kings Point dog owners.
McGinnis said that KP residents can take their dogs to the Sun City Center Community Association dog park, but some people have difficulty getting to the South Pebble Beach Boulevard location due to low vision or other disabilities.
The Club has its eye on acreage just east of the pond on S.R. 674 owned by the Florida Department of Transportation. The Club wants DOT to turn that acreage over to Hillsborough County, which the club would then lobby to help make the park a reality with grants and donations.
McGinnis estimates that 40 of the 112 homeowner associations in Kings Point are dog friendly and that there are about 600 dogs. The proposed park would be handy for Kings Point residents, and it would also be accessible to the public — whereas the CA dog park is available only to members.
The current CA Dog Owners Group roster numbers about 200 households, some with more than one dog. D.O.G. President Bob Bagley said that membership varies in any given year, sometimes going up to 300, but they haven’t experienced any overcrowding. About 17 percent of the members are Kings Point dog owners.