Greater Sudbury is looking to add a third off-leash dog park in the city, with one planned near the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in the South End.
If it opens, it would join the Second Avenue and Azilda dog parks. But getting neighbourhood support has been tricky, with two locations near Bell Park being rejected in recent years because of local opposition.
The city has since created guidelines for locating dog parks to give them the best chance of being approved.
“The property, located at 235 Countryside Drive, matches municipal criteria for site selection and guidelines for the design of separate enclosures for large and small dogs,” a news release from the city said. “Approval of the site as an off-leash dog park requires an amendment to the bylaw to establish and regulate the use of off-leash dog parks, following a period of community consultation.”
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.
The July 8 event at Countryside runs between 4-7 p.m., with feedback also being accepted online at overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca
