HALIFAX – The new year is starting with new rules at Africville Park.
As of January first, dogs will have to be on a leash and accompanied by their owner while at the park. It’s a change that has been months in the making, and it comes into effect a day after the official opening of a replacement park in the Mainland Common.
“We’re thankful that we had this park for as long as we did for off-leash fun, and we’re looking forward to our new park,” said Jennifer Duffett.
Duffett was one of several dog owners that gathered at Africville Park Wednesday afternoon to mark the last day. She says while there is some disappointment among community members about losing off-leash access to the Africville location, most are looking forward to the replacement park.
“We’re just happy to have a dog park, all we really ever wanted is for a place to take the dogs and for them to have off-leash fun,” she said.
The new park, which is located near Westridge Drive, isn’t finished yet. HRM Councillor Russell Walker says more work is expected over the next few months.
“The double gates are in, the tables are in, the benches are in, and this is phase one, and phase two will be opening in May of this coming year,” said Russell.
Jennifer Stairs, a spokeswoman with HRM, says phase two will increase the size of the park and bring in some enhancements.
“We’re going to continue to work in the winter as the weather allows and in the spring on the second phase,” said Stairs.”We’re going to add in a shelter, some water sources as well as trails and we’re going to move the fence a bit more to make the park a bit bigger.”
Signs are already up around Africville Park indicating the change to on-leash. Stairs says enforcement officials will be out raising awareness about the new regulations in the first few weeks, and after that, she says, they will start ticketing violators. The fine is $176.
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