As a dog owner, I know the importance for animals and humans to socialize.  This should be able to be done in and eco-friendly community based environment versus having to drive to a "destination" off leash park.  If we have a "Downtown" park, everyone wins and we stay connected and become stronger as a community.  The closest off leash dog parks are Barber Park and Fleet People's Park.  Both more than 6 miles from the Lake Eola / Thornton Park neighborhoods.  There are very many condo and apartment residents downtown that have dogs.  The mental and physical benefits are enormous.  Happy, healthy dogs are calmer, and more well behaved, reducing nuisance barking, aggression and other behavioral problems exhibited by idle and / or non-socialized dogs.  A dog park Downtown would also bring customers to local surrounding businesses.  It's also a moral issue.  It is about good citizenship (pets and community members) and good stewardship of our resources (unused "green" space).  Off leash activities for dogs change their black and white existance into technicolor.  One only has to watch the dogs playing together to understand the difference between life lived and life enriched.