If you missed Monday's open house to offer your opinions on a plan to build a dog park in the South End, there's still time to give your input online.
Residents can go here to offer their comments, although they will have to register first. The deadline has been extended to June 18.
Residents in the area formed the York K9 Club three years ago to develop an off-leash dog park, and received a $47,000 grant from the city to support their work.
“The York K9 Club will contribute donations from supporters of this initiative,” says a post on the city's website.
The original location for the park was at the Riverdale Playground, where a fence was put up. But objections from residents in the area prompted a move closer to Bell Park, near the York Street parking lot near Paris Street and Boland Avenue.
“This location offers a balance between central urban access and relative distance from nearby residences and institutions,” the city's website says. “The property’s proximity to Bell Park will encourage residents to exercise their dogs in a dedicated park, rather than public green space. The existing parking lot has capacity to serve both visitors to Bell Park and the proposed dog park.
“An off-leash dog park is in spirit with the Bell Park Covenant which states that Bell Park lands are to be used for public park and recreation purposes.”
The city's bylaw regulating off-leash parks includes several requirements for pet owners:
- Pet owners and handlers are limited to three dogs in the off-leash park.
- Pet owners must always stoop and scoop.
- Operating hours are between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Daily.
- Pet owners and handlers must always be in care and control of their dog and keep a leash readily accessible at all times.
- Dogs demonstrating aggressive behaviour must be removed from the park.
“Through the site selection and public consultation process, the city will determine whether there is a sufficient buffer between the proposed dog park and nearby residences to minimize the impact of noise from park users,” the website said.
The city already has two dog parks, one in Minnow Lake and a second in Azilda.
