Thursday, November 12, 2026
A visitor using a cane is faced with an uneven surface and grade alongside the fence. A handrail could help his balance as he navigates the slight upward slope. It is dry season, but during the rainy season, the dirt pathway along the fence could turn muddy and slippery.
Exiting the dog park, Margaret goes downhill with her motorized wheelchair, facing challenges with the uneven topography. Had to be aided by the staff for fear of the wheelchair tipping over. Her service dog, Feivel, follows close by.
All Hands On Deck with Raul Perez (Chief Building Official), Heather Reed (Fleet & Facilities Coordinator), Martha Montgomery (Fleet & Facilities Supervisor), Councilor Darrin Palumbo, Joseph Parrelli (Manager, Fleet & Facilities), and Samantha Malloy, Manager, Parks and Recreation with Margaret Hackett in a powered wheelchair.
A visitor using a wheeled walker is faced with the challenge of uneven grass surface with an upward slope. He came with a companion who helped with the dogs through the gate.
The picnic table is a favorite social spot for the dogs as well as the humans.
On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, staff members from Marco’s Parks and Recreation, Fleet and Facilities, along with Councilor Darrin Palumbo met at the entrance to the Canine Cove. They invited Margaret Hackett, a Marco resident who uses a motorized wheelchair for mobility and has experienced challenges while trying to access Canine Cove with her service dog, Feivel. The staff wanted to hear her input on how the City can make Canine Cove more accessible for all.
Margaret spoke during Public Comment at the November 18th City Council Meeting, and this is what she shared, “In the spring of 2024, I visited the Canine Cove with Feivel and used the back entrance as the front entrance was totally inaccessible. As I made my way across the park, my wheelchair sank into the dirt like quicksand, but with the help of good people at the park, they used 2x4s and a shovel to get me out of the dirt. I realized that I am not the only person that has obstacles to deal with in public places such as the dog park. And I needed to speak up. I contacted the Parks and Recs Department about my experience, and they said they were looking into this issue. I also wrote a letter to Coastal Breeze News, which they published. And now, I am trying to revisit this issue to see if anything has been done.”
At the December 9th City Council meeting, Councilor Palumbo had a “Dog Park update,” referring to Margaret Hackett’s visit to the City Council in November. According to Palumbo, “Big thanks to Dr. Casey Lucius, Assistant City Manager, and City Staff for really moving this forward at lightning speed. This is not a person asking for something for herself. She is asking for something for her service dog – an animal in service to her who gets to be a dog for a couple of hours every day at Canine Cove. What a beautiful way to pay it forward to hear this type of story, and we are going to keep moving forward and will keep you informed.” Palumbo added, “There is not a lot of chances to do heartfelt good, and when someone comes to us and asks for a little help for her service dog, I am committed to seeing it through. If anybody would like to donate to making the Canine Cove more accessible, please help us out with this great cause. Councilor Erik Brechnitz chimed in and said, “Parks and Recs Foundation is a good way to start.”
Brechnitz was referring to the Marco Island Community Parks Foundation, Inc., whose mission is focused on providing a broad source of community support for parks located within the city. They seek to raise funds for various purposes related to the maintenance, capital improvements, and technological and safety enhancements of the city parks on Marco Island.
During the December 11th Canine Cove meeting, the group started from the parking lot and entered through the gated entrance with Margaret. The space was a bit tight trying to maneuver a motorized wheelchair through the gate and into the Large Dog enclosure. Once inside the large dog enclosure, the uneven topography did not lend itself to reasonable access for people using wheelchairs or to people aided with canes or walkers while holding onto their leashed dogs.
According to Joe Parelli, Manager of Fleet and Facilities, “We are looking at different options for accessibility into the Park.” The City staff are planning to present these options to the City Council at the January meeting.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here