Friends of Fleet Peeples Park, Inc.


IMPORTANT UPDATES: Commision Meeting/Special Project-Volunteers Needed/ Events

Proposed "New" Master Plan for Fleet Peeples Park (designed by John Holland, Director of Parks and Recreation at the request of the Parks & Rec Board). This plan proposes to move the fence to the other side of the bathroom, close to woods. Leaving approximately less than one third of the open space available now. A line estimating the proposed new fence location has been sprayed on the ground at the park.


City Commission Work Session on Proposed
"New" Plan for Fleet Peeples Park

This Monday, April 27th, 2009 the City Commission will hold a work session regarding the "new" and "approved" Fleet Peeples Park Master Plans from 6:00 - 7:00. No public input will be allowed during the work session. This will allow the Commission to ask questions and express their concerns and positions on both plans. It will also allow the citizens to be able to ascertain the current positions of the Mayor and the Commisioners.

At a later Commission meeting, likely in May, another vote will be taken by the Commission on the already approved Master Plan (April 14, 2008) after considerations have been deliberated regarding the proposed "new" plan to bring this issue to a resolution. We will keep you updated on the date and time of that meeting. Winter Park residents are welcome to speak at that meeting.
How Did We Get Here?


After a year long process, the Master Plan for Fleet Peeples Park was unanimously approved by the City Commission on April 14, 2008.

Motion made by Commissioner Diebel to adopt the master plan for Fleet Peeples Park and support the Parks and Recreation recommendation; seconded by Commissioner Dillaha. Commissioner Bridges asked Commissioner Diebel if she would consider modifying her motion to include that the Friends of Fleet Peeples Park and our Parks Board meet together and create a set of operating rules as we have for our other parks which would delineate the responsibilities of the parties involved and would lay out the guidelines, including any fees, and what the boundaries and expectations are from both parties. Commissioner Dillaha asked that current guildelines for parks be updated for Fleet Peeples to address the current use. Commissioner Diebel stated she is agreeable if that is important to Commissioner Bridges but asked if it should be a different direction to the Parks and Recreation Board to pursue that work or if this needs to be tied together. She stated this would activate the group of people who are interested in completing the master plan for funding, etc. so they can move forward with their initiatives and maybe do that in parallel. Commisioner Bridges said 'I am not trying to create an obstacle, I just thought we'd streamline the whole process and have an understanding. Guideling are pretty easy to update. . .I support the approval of the adoption of the FPP MP as proposed with the addition that the FFPP and the Parks Board will meet together and create a set of guidelines outlining the responsibilities of both parties'. Commissioner Dillaha, as the seconder to the motion, agreed to the amendment. Motion made by Commissioner Bridges to support the approval of the adoption of the Fleet Peeples Master Plan as proposed with the addition that the Friends of Fleet Peeples Park and the Parks and the Parks Board meet together and create a set of guidelines outlining the responsibilities of both parties. Commissioner Diebel accepted the amendment. Upon a roll call vote, the motion carried with a 5-0 vote".

In September 2008, the fee issue was brought to the public but with no final decision made by the Parks and Rec Board. Shortly thereafter, one member of the Parks and Rec Board began to raise concerns regarding possible environmental damage to the lake because of the presence of the dogs. Regular discussion in Parks and Rec Board meetings continued about Fleet Peeples Park and resulted in Kim Allen's presentaion in January 2009. In February 2009, FFPP gave their presentation. Additional issues were brought by the Park and Rec Board as to whether or not the current use of the park was the best use of the property, as well as concerns about the use of the park by non-residents. During this time, the Parks Board, against the directive of the Commission, terminated the relationship with the Friends of Fleet Peeples Park, as well as the process of developing the Memorandum of Understanding. These discussions resulted in the Parks and Rec Board requesting a complete redesign of the park by John Holland and the parks department staff, which was later approved by the Parks and Rec Board for recommendation to the City Commission.

The Friends of Fleet Peeples Park vehemently oppose this proposed "new" plan and strongly object to the renegade behavior of some members of the Parks Board and the efforts made to drastically reduce the size of the off-leash dog friendly area.

We Need Your Help!

We have a special project that we
need help on immediately! If you
can help, please contact Meredith at thetracys@cfl.rr.com or 407.733.2128
Upcoming Events! Join Us and Support the Park!

Sat 4/25 Canine Wine, Lago
Sun 4/26 Yappy Hour, Jack's
Sat 5/2 Doggie Derby
Sat 5/16 Orlando Beer Fest

For more information and times
visit www.ffpp.org


Please remember to respect the on-leash hours until we get the issue resolved. In addition, please continue to pick up after your dog and others whose owners may have accidently missed theirs.