Residents looking for relief from the rising temperatures will have one less option as a ban on swimming at Dinky Dock Park is in effect until further notice.
The City of Winter Park recently posted, on its Facebook page, that the beach is closed to swimmers due to elevated levels of bacteria. Officials will issue an update when conditions change.
According to the city’s Lakes Division, rising temperatures in freshwater systems typically increase the risk of infections from harmful bacteria and amoeba. Informational signs are posted on the beaches at Dinky Dock and Lake Baldwin Park whenever water temperatures exceed 80 degrees.
The Lakes Division manages and maintains all Winter Park lakes and waterways, performs canal maintenance and water quality monitoring, and assists with stormwater management. According to a city representative, lake water samples are taken every two weeks, and the ban on swimming will be reevaluated after the next test.
Despite the swim ban, Dinky Dock Park may be more crowded that usual due to an improvement project at Fort Maitland Park that has closed its public boat ramp for approximately five months. A traffic advisory on the city of Winter Park website warns that more boaters will be accessing the Dinky Dock Park boat ramp as a result of the Fort Maitland Park closure.
City officials will post updates as they are available.