More off-leash dog parks proposed for Kelowna

KELOWNA – There is not a lot of support for creating more off-leash dog parks in Kelowna, with just a small majority of citizens in favour.

Still, city council is considering adding five more off-leash parks, four of them proposed for the Okanagan Lake waterfront, where there is just one.

“Well, I’m glad I live close to it. It’s a terrific place for them,” says Keith MacMillan who was walking his dog Tuesday morning at Cedar Creek Park. “This one meets my needs but I think there should be more.”

One of the suggested beach sites is a small, strip of sand downtown at the foot of Bernard Avenue

“The pavement can get really hot on dogs’ paws so we thought it might be an opportunity for a dog to go into the water and cool off their paws,” says city parks planner Barb Davidson.

Another site suggested by staff is so-called Mushroom Beach, immediately south of the Bennett Bridge, where there were a lot of neighbourhood complaints last summer about unsavoury activities such as drug and alcohol use.

Davidson says introducing dogs and their owners might help move the undesirables out of the area.

“That’s an added benefit. It’s not the only reason we’re looking at that location.”

A recent, statistically valid city survey shows just a slight edge in proponents, over opponents, of more off-leash parks.

“It’s very close to a 50-50 split,” says Davidson.

City council will seek more public input before deciding if, how many and where more off-leash parks will be created.

Davidson says those determinations will likely not happen in time for the busy, summer season.