Residents urge St. Pete Beach to keep shade trees, fix dog‑park mulch during parks review

Residents from Vina Del Mar and neighboring areas used the public‑comment period to press the commission to change staff recommendations for neighborhood parks and dog‑park surfaces. Terry Grocott, speaking for the Vina del Mar Island Association, asked the commission to "reject the recommendation to remove the Bridal Poinciana trees" and said two independent veterinarians concluded the trees posed "only minimal risk to dogs," while warning that removing mature shade would make parks unsafe from heat.

Several neighbors described poor conditions at Ron McKinney and other parks: David Gamma said the dog park needs new mulch and that some dogs were showing allergies and injuries he tied to current surfacing; Dean D'Adamo and others advocated for alternatives such as artificial turf or sod. "We recommended artificial turf is number 1, sod is number 2," D'Adamo said of the citizen action group's study, noting engineered mulch has a short service life and may require repeated replacement.

Commissioner Maldonado told the association the city manager and attorney agreed to keep the trees in place with signage and to work with neighbors. Staff and commissioners noted the city's broader park CIP and the ranked park projects that could be funded if the commission chooses to collect additional millage. The commission asked staff to include parks projects among outreach topics if a TRIM ceiling is published for public feedback.