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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation

Scout project creates fun options for dogs at park

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When Sean Monahan brainstormed ideas to gain the rank of Eagle Scout, he finally settled on a way to help man’s best friend.

The scout decided to incorporate new accessories for dogs at the Carolyn Meeker Dog Park in Lutz.

The member of Boy Scout Troop 12 – also in Lutz – had to tackle a project that betters his community as one of his requirements to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 12, in Lutz, rallied around Scout Sean Monahan to help build new equipment at the Carolyn Meeker Dog Park. The project was done as part of Monahan’s quest to advance to the rank of Eagle Scout, while providing more fun options for dogs at the park. (Courtesy of Todd Pratt, Hillsborough County Media Relations Strategist)

Monahan said that his adoration for dogs sparked the idea to create a more fun and energetic environment for them.

“I thought adding agility equipment in both the big and small dog areas would kind of give them a little something more to do,” the 16-year-old said.

Joe Monroe is the recreation program supervisor for Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation.

The scout approached Monroe and explained the upgrade he wanted for the dog park.

“Before that, there were actually zero obstacle course pieces there,” the supervisor said.

Monahan unveiled several schematic drawings of what he had in mind.

He took a survey and found that visitors wanted new amenities for their dogs, too.

With the help of his fellow scouts, Monahan raised $3,100, pushing his agenda forward.

The team also worked together to install the equipment.

The bigger park area now has two loops for dogs to jump through, as well as an accessory to jump over. The smaller area has a tunnel for dogs to run through and a platform where dogs can learn commands from their owners.

The four new pieces of equipment were placed in the park during a span of three days.

Monahan did not take full credit for the project.

“I led it, but I did have a lot of help from a lot of other people, the Scout said.

Monroe admired the Scouts’ ability to wrap up the effort in less than a week.

“We were impressed by the timeline,” he said. “The planning took a lot longer than the actual installation of the project.”

It was a win for Hillsborough County, the Scouts and the community, Monroe added.

In his six years in Troop 12, Monahan has helped his community in other ways, too.

He has handed out cool drinks at the Lutz Fourth of July Parade, and he has picked up trash on U.S. 41.

Monahan has earned numerous merit badges. He and his fellow Scouts also have gone on camping expeditions, including out of state.

Eventually, he wants to become a Sea Scout, advancing his boating skills.

He thinks other youths should be afforded these same opportunities, and find ways to better their environment.

He believes this recent accomplishment, at the dog park, has helped to build his character.

“I feel like finishing the project really helped me more clearly define my definition of leadership,” the Scout said. “It taught me that if you’re doing something, you’ve got to be prepared for every single thing.”

Published March 18, 2020

Burglars can’t steal softball league’s spirit

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Lutz Softball Inc., formerly known as the Lutz Leaguerettes, isn’t going to let a recent burglary ruin its season.

While still picking up the pieces from a March 8 break-in, the league is moving forward with practices and games, as usual.

“We are not going to have the girls suffer,” said Mike Cook, president of Lutz Softball.
“We’re still going to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off, and try to spin it in a positive direction, someway, somehow.”

Two suspects burglarized the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex in the early morning hours of March 8, causing losses in excess of $5,000.

While Hillsborough County owns the park, Lutz Softball has a field-usage agreement, working closely with the county’s parks and recreation department.

The hooded suspects stole approximately $1,000 in cash, $1,000 worth of sporting equipment, $1,500 in food, and caused $2,000 in property damage, according to information from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Lutz Softball Inc., is having several fundraisers after a burglary at the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex caused about $5,000 in losses for the organization. The recreational fast pitch league caters to girls, ages 5 to 18.
(Courtesy of Lutz Softball Inc.)

Released video surveillance footage shows the suspects used pry bars to break into the concession stand, office and equipment storage areas.
“They took whatever they could get their hands on,” the league president said.
The footage also shows the suspects loading the items into an unknown vehicle parked on the west side of Crooked Lane, just south of West Lutz Lake Fern Road.
Pilfered items included an 80-pound safe, safe shields, shin guards and softballs.

“It’s unfortunate they got into the equipment room,” Cook said. “I’m guessing it’s probably just stuff they can sell quick, and get a couple of bucks for.”
Bulk quantities of various concession items also were swiped by the burglars, the league president said.
“They took everything in the freezer,” Cook said. “They took the hot dogs, the buns, the cheese, the chicken tenders, the mozzarella sticks, the onion rings, the bacon —everything.”

The recreational fast pitch organization has created a GoFundMe page to recoup the thousands of dollars in losses.

So far, more than $1,000 has been raised, including numerous donations from players’ families.
“We’re a strong unit, a strong network,” Cook said, “and everybody’s come together on this.”

There will also be another major fundraising opportunity on April 1, when the league hosts its annual Super Saturday event.
Described as a “fun-filled day,” the event will feature a parent softball tournament, along with various games, a bounce house and dunk tank. There’s also a silent auction and basket raffles.
“It’s a huge day for us,” Cook said. “It’ll certainly help in recovering and recouping from (the burglary).”

To Cook, the hardest part to grasp from the incident is the impact on the league’s young players, who range from 5 to 18 years old.
“You’re not stealing from the parents there. You’re not stealing from the executive board. You’re stealing from these girls, who just want to go to a place where they’re not playing video games or hanging out on the street corner,” Cook said.

Besides raising money to replace lost items, the league is working with Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation to repair the broken locks and doors, and one of the damaged fields.
Cook noted the sports complex was last burglarized about three years ago.
Additional security measures to prevent a similar instance are being discussed with the league’s executive board, he said.
“We’re trying to figure out what the best route is, but we certainly want to upgrade our current surveillance system, with some other precautionary measures,” he said.

Besides the burglary, it’s been an eventful year-plus for the softball organization.
In January 2016, Lutz Softball announced it would offer a recreational fast-pitch league for the first time in its 37-year history.
Just six months later, the league discontinued its slow-pitch leagues altogether, citing dwindling registration figures and an overwhelming preference for fast-pitch.
Cook said the league now has about 200 girls (ages 5 to 18), the highest number since he joined the organization four years ago.
“The transition to fast pitch is going really, really well,” he said.
The Leaguerettes are a PONY (Protect Our Nation’s Youth) Softball affiliate.

To donate, visit GoFundMe.com/eyqzb-lutz-softball.
Anyone with any information on the burglary is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200.

Published March 15, 2017

 

Hillsborough County seeks input for parks and recreation

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At locations around Hillsborough County, officials from the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation department are meeting with residents to discuss future recreational plans for the county.

Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation director Doc Dougherty outlined the park-planning process at the Northdale Community Center on June 27. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)
Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation director Doc Dougherty outlined the park-planning process at the Northdale Community Center on June 27.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

On June 27, the public input session was held at the Northdale Community Center. That was one of seven meetings in June to gather suggestions as the county creates its comprehensive plan for its parks system.

The goal is to have a final master plan in time for the county’s budget discussions in January, said Doc Dougherty, the county’s parks and recreation director.

Once it has been completed, the plan essentially will be a “wish book” of requests, upgrades and programming for the park system.

Ideas from residents and department staff are both being considered.

“It’s the involvement of everybody — it’s not just one person’s plan,” Dougherty said. “In the end, we can have a much more productive department and better quality of life through our parks overall,” he said.

The county’s parks and recreation system is large. It includes: More than 180 neighborhood parks, 118 playgrounds, 270 athletic fields and 53 community centers.

The county also oversees five dog parks and three skateparks.

At the Northdale session, an addendum survey indicated a strong preference for more senior-oriented programs, disc golf fields, and hiking and walking trails. There were also requests for more open green spaces with picnic areas and additional recreation centers.

“A big part of our discussion of the master plan is: Do we build new parks or do renovate old parks? When you start looking at the number of parks we already have, how about we invest into the older parks,” Dougherty said.

Ideally, the department would like to receive at least 50,000 responses from county residents, Dougherty said. That would present the department with a realistic view of upgrades and improvements needed for each neighborhood park.

“Our total (budget request) will be a large number,” he said. “Individually, there might be one park where it’s $200,000 to upgrade and another park might be $700,000,” he said.

“A lot of people just think about the big parks that we have, but we’ve got such small individual parks that just a little (upkeep) will go a long way,” he added.

If the Hillsborough County Commission approves the master plan’s budget, Dougherty said the department is facing at least another 100 meetings with various focus groups and individual communities before any systematic changes are made.

“It won’t be something where a budget passes and we’re ready,” he said. “It will take a little bit of time, but at least the focus and priority of where the money is going will be there.”

One possible alteration to the park system is the creation of specialty parks, such as tennis and basketball centers.

Adding specialty parks would eliminate the need to repair damaged tennis and basketball courts in each neighborhood park, Dougherty said.

“Do we continue fixing everything that’s in every park, or do we create what we call specialty parks? That’s one of the drastic changes when you start looking at creating the master plan,” Dougherty said.

The department also is looking into several technological upgrades, such as the addition of electronic charging stations (powered by solar energy) and wireless Internet access in certain designated areas within each park.

“Technology — we know that’s the future,” Dougherty said.

Enhanced safety and security measures, including solar-powered security cameras and emergency security call boxes, will likely be a significant focal point within the master plan.

Recreation ID membership passes are another safety measure the department has researched.

“This will take a little more time to implement, but we should have some kind of understanding and regulation of who’s coming and going,” Dougherty said.

“On the short end, it helps us to know who’s interested in what kind of (recreation) classes. To me, it’s strictly a security issue — no bad people want to let us know that they’re coming into the parks,” he said.

The public meetings in June followed up similar sessions held earlier in the year by the Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management department, which oversees 10 regional nature parks, including Lake Park and the Upper Tampa Bay Trail.

Its master plan will include specific recommendations on policies, procedures and practices as it relates to natural resource management, regional park facility uses and upgrades, and outdoor recreation.

Upgrading the park system has a significant effect on quality of life and property values, Dougherty said.

“When it comes to budget times, people see parks and recreation as not a necessity,” he said. “But, when you think about…what people take part in — youths in little league programs, having a picnic in the park — most people’s only connection to the local government is through parks and recreation.”

Share your thoughts
Do you have an opinion about future recreational priorities in Hillsborough County? An online survey is available for citizens to weigh in. Visit PlanYourParks.metroquest.com.

Published July 13, 2016