ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Area residents have a new visually appealing place to take their dogs after county commissioners on Tuesday approved a measure to allow dogs to be walked at Wildcat Cove.

The county has been searching for a waterside location where dog owners could take their pets, though commissioners ran into several problems during their search, including beachfront property owners concerned about unleashed dogs on private property and a denial from the state after a request to use Avalon beachside park on North State Road A1A.

Instead, the county settled on Wildcat Cove at 3399 N. S.R. A1A, a cove along Indian River Lagoon, as a place on North Hutchinson Island where dogs can walk without leashes. The property contains walking trails and connects to the north side of Pepper Park where there is paved parking and other amenities as well as a separate parking space by Wildcat Cove.

The county has a beach park for dogs at Walton Rocks Beach, 6700 S. S.R. A1A on South Hutchinson Island.

The rules for the park dictate that owners must keep control of their dogs or else use a leash as well as a requirement for owners to clean up after their animals. A maximum of three dogs per person is allowed among other requirements.

The county will provide a wastebasket and small bags for picking up and disposing waste. The cost is less than $300, Assistant County Attorney Heather Young said.

The issue was continued from Oct. 6 after North Beach Association President Craig Mundt asked it to be pushed back because only a fourth of the group’s 1,000 members would have a chance to attend the meeting.

Mundt said he is in favor of the park, though he wanted to make sure others had the chance to respond.

The commission also agreed to a facilities use agreement with St. Lucie County Health Access Network to provide a free clinic for the uninsured who do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. The clinic could be open as early as August and will be located at the county logistics center at the old Sam’s Club site on U.S. 1.

The commission also gave permission to advertise an ordinance requiring 10 days advance notice of expert documents and expert testimony that is expected to be introduced at a public hearing. The notice would be filed with the county’s Growth Management director.

“From a good government standpoint, I think it would be helpful to get these things in advance,” County Attorney Dan McIntyre said.

Eric Pfahler

Tags: dogs, Indian River Lagoon, wildcat cove

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 at 11:20 am and is filed under St. Lucie County. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.