By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: June 18, 2018
District of Squamish is turning to local citizens and asking for suggestions on four locations for off-leash dog parks in town.
The district plans to pursue public engagement for the following off leash dog locations within the District of Squamish:
Eaglewind Park (Downtown)
John Hunter Park (Valleycliffe)
Raven Drive – BC Hydro Right of Way (Brennan Park East)
Hydro ROW – Ray Peters Trail
In the fall of 2014, council directed staff to work with “Responsible Dog Owners’ Groups of Squamish” (RDOGS) to explore off leash locations within the District of Squamish.
Demand for dedicated off leash locations has increased with growth in population and an increase in conflict between dogs and wildlife.
The budget for the fencings for the four off-leash areas, if all are approved, would range anywhere from $800,000 to a $1 million.
The Ray Peters Trail is the largest location and provides flexibility as to the dog park location size, which ranges from five to 20 acres. This location has been identified as a high wildlife conflict area although it is already being used as an off leash area.
This location also has the least potential impact on neighbours and access to parking, staff told the council in a report, and BC Hydro has also already approved use of this location through a licence of occupation.
The Eaglewind park site is 2.7 acres, slightly larger than the other two sites. WildsafeBC and COS advise that the potential for wildlife conflict is considered moderate, although currently there is a sow and two cubs living in the area.
District spokesperson Christina Moore said staff identified a number of issues and concerns as they explored different “large” trail areas as possibilities for off-leash dogs.
Land ownership, she said, is an obvious consideration while wildlife conflicts are another major consideration. District staff have had a number of recent meetings to try to resolve some of the challenges, she said.
Staff are seeking endorsement and approval to move forward with public engagement on all four off-leash sites.
Patricia Marini says
Really, I last I year picked up in one cleanup day 50 green/blue bags of poop thrown in the bush. Yesterday I walked Tantalus Road 4 bags on the edge of sidewalk and now you want my tax DOLLARS to go to make more space for irresponsible people to have more places to throw the POOP???
Dave Colwell says
Well said. I sent a letter to Council including your view point re. the green bag thing and mine below. In most of the UK they have at least a 100 pound fine for off leash dogs in urban areas…..cruel? Unjust?…Nah! The thing is, they hardly have reason to enact it!
Dave Colwell says
I am all for off-leash Dog parks but there HAS to be more definitive action ensuring that in other areas there is strict enforcement and fixed stiff penalties for having any dog off-leash on our streets and public walkways …otherwise it is an irresponsible use of our tax dollars. Fixed penalties are the only way to go when a population reaches a certain level. Look to towns and cities of any substantial size in the civilized “1st world”.
The way it is going now, there should be enough instances to pay for the parks! Hey, lots of money to be had on our street alone! 🙂
Want to really spend money wisely?…hire a dedicated focused enforcer who abhors dog poop and out of control dogs!
Glenne Campbell says
Make it user pay or
some equivalent there of. 1 million in tax collection dollars? Somebody is buying a new house in Squamish…..
Lisa Michelle says
Im a dog owner and no thank you please put that toward Brennan Park upgrads – not off leash areas, if they are easy and afordable fine but come on, $1 mil in fencing and labour no thank you, not sure we even spent that on childrens parks – unless our dog licences cover it please dont do it. Thanks though for thinking of the 4 legged side kicks.
Pennie says
Having off leash dog areas where there is a high level of wildlife- ie cougars, coyotes, bears and wolves is not the smartest idea. District has been encourages dog owners to stay away from these areas and especially not to be in these areas off leash. Ray Peters trail is very heavy in wildlife. You shouldn’t build a fence either in this area and cause issues for the wildlife. Better to find areas that do not have as much wildlife. Judd Beach area has been used for many years as an off leash area and does not seen to attract alot of wildlife. There is water and beaches and trials that are great for dogs.
Larry Murray says
Thanks to Pearls and other value shops, dog leashes are being made available to the Environment Society to place free of cost at the Estuary Trailheads. Rarely, then can one have the excuse…’I don’t have a leash’
Thanks to all those who understand the need to have pets on leash, especially in wildlife areas.