Petition calls for ‘necessary’ new dog park in Bradford

When it comes to finding more space for our furry four-legged friends, this Bradford resident is a bit of a dog with a bone.

Bradford resident Luisa Coquim launched an online petition on May 20 to ask the city for a new off-leash dog park, preferably located more centrally than the existing Scanlon Creek Conservation Area’s Bark Park, which is accessible on Yonge Street right south of Line 10.

That’s where Coquim has been taking her three-year-old Dalmatian, Odie, for as many years.

“It’s a beautiful park, it really is, and it was a very thoughtful idea,” she said, but added that it’s not without its problems, as she’s seen how much ice builds up in the winter, how muddy it gets in the spring, and in the summer it’s “infested ” with mosquitoes.

However, the biggest problem Coquim has noticed is the lack of walkability for those without a vehicle.

“If I want to take my dog ​​to the dog park, I have to get him in the car and take him outside, and it’s very inconvenient when we have all these open spaces in Bradford that could benefit from a park for dogs”, she. said.

It’s an issue that has been brought to Coquim’s mind more recently as it has sat in traffic caused by ongoing construction for the Bradford Bypass, which it believes makes it difficult to safely enter or exit the park even with a vehicle.

She tried to meet with a group of other dog owners to meet at existing parks in the city, but found that the dogs weren’t getting enough exercise because they were required to stay on a leash and other park users didn’t. they were happy to see so many dogs there.

Coquim said she and others in the group also tried to set up playdates for some of the dogs in each other’s yards, but found there wasn’t enough room. Like most residents, she lives in a subdivision where yards are “miniature.”

“The fact that I can’t allow Odie to run and play and just be a dog – it’s not fair to the dog,” she said, adding that most people can’t afford to move to a bigger property . “There’s got to be a place around here where these poor animals can run around and just be animals.”

That prompted Coquim to discuss the issue with Mayor James Leduc, who recommended she start the petition to gauge how many other residents agreed.

“I heard that from a lot of people, but I thought, ‘Let’s put it all in one place and see how many actually want it in our community,'” he said, estimating that most homes in Bradford have dogs, based on his experience. campaign.

Depending on the number of people who sign the petition by the time it is presented to the board, Leduc hopes to ask staff to review the options and report back.

“If there is any opportunity to provide a dog park, I will certainly support it,” he said. “I would support a dog park if it works – if it’s properly sited and doesn’t disturb people.”

While not currently a pet owner, the mayor said he has friends and family with dogs and understands the desire for more opportunities to let them exercise and socialize off-leash.

When Coquim meets her group to drop off leashed dogs at Bark Park, she said “they’re like kids,” running and playing together. Plus, when they get home “they’re more relaxed because it takes some of that energy out.”

As for the location, Coquim suggested the new dog park could be added near the baseball diamonds behind the Bradford and District Community Memorial Center at 125 Simcoe Rd., as there is already parking, lighting and open space.

“It would just be the cost of the fence — nothing elaborate,” she said.

Barking up the wrong tree?

However, Community Services Director Terry Foran said the process is a little more complicated.

“The dog park is complicated,” he said. “There’s a lot going on.”

This includes finding a large enough site (usually about an acre) that has proper grading and drainage, as well as access to potable water and parking.

In addition, it must be free of conflict with any nearby residences, other park users and even different types of dogs, with separate areas and double gates to accommodate large, small, passive and more aggressive dogs.

As a result, Foran said most dog parks tend to be located away from other uses. Even once a suitable site is chosen, consideration must be given to the installation of shade structures, the volume of pet waste and the impact on the lawn, which should probably be replaced with wood chips.

These challenges may help explain why most comparable municipalities have only one dog park — including Newmarket, Innisfil, King and Whitchurch-Stoufville — with most larger municipalities having more, such as Barrie and Richmond Hill at two each, and Markham with four. New Tecumseth and Georgina are the exceptions with two each, while East Gwillimbury has none.

However, Foran and his team took the time to analyze what it would take to add another dog park, based on 1,379 responses to a public survey that ran from January to February 2022 as part of consultations for the general plan of the city’s leisure services.

It showed that dog walking was in 10th place^th out of 26 activities with the support of 35 percent of respondents, placing it just below recreational skating and just above organized children’s programs.

However, when it came to support for investing funds in those facilities, off-leash dog parks ranked 23rd.^st out of 28 options, with 19% against and 45% in favor, placing it just below a skateboard/BMX park and just above pickleball courts.

For now, Foran explained that the city doesn’t have land suitable to add another off-leash dog park, and there are currently no plans to include one in the second phase of the Henderson Park expansion (which is set to lose land due to detours). ), nor at the renovated Centenary Park and the future town hall near the community center.

However, Foran also said staff could consider the idea of ​​any future parks if the board wants.

“We’re very focused on what our residents have told us about their priorities and what their appetite for spending is, but if we see opportunities for any other facilities to come into a park that can fit into the plan, of course it’s always considered,” he said. “Just because it didn’t rank 2nd or 3rd doesn’t mean it doesn’t count.”

Coquim says a dog park “would really bring the community, especially for dog owners to be able to meet and build those relationships and that community as well.”

“I know it’s not the most important thing that Bradford needs right now, but it’s definitely something that’s needed,” she said, adding that she’s heard of dog owners trying to use baseball diamonds or sports fields in the place of others. -leash dog park, leading to damaged surfaces, dug holes and pet waste left behind.

“There’s a lot of people who let their dogs loose in places they shouldn’t be and they’re putting their pets at risk and also damaging property, so we’d better have something,” a Coquim said.

As of this writing, the petition has more than 150 signatures and Coquim plans to present it to council later this summer. In the meantime, anyone interested can find it online at Change.org.

Foran encouraged any residents with suggestions or concerns to contact staff directly by using the feedback option on the city’s website or by calling the city at 905-775-5366.