(Aug. 29 UPDATE: On Monday, councillors decided to look at the issue further. They would also consider whether the city could potentially cover fencing as a standard amenity. Council decided not to add $1 to the annual dog licensing fee.)
A report that will be presented to Edmonton councillors Monday suggests council should make some improvements to a popular off-leash dog park, but not pay for the biggest ask from park users.
It’s being recommended to the Community and Public Services Committee that city council fund standard level amenities – waste bins, waste bag dispensers, code of conduct signs, entrance and exit signs and 331 trees and shrubs – at Grand Trunk dog park.
However, the report states the community should pay for any special amenities, including fencing, itself.
“You don’t think those dogs are going to run around those bushes and trees to get to the road?
“I don’t know what they were thinking,” Ken Zahara said.
Watch below: Should fencing be included in the standard amenities when the City of Edmonton builds a dog park? The idea will be looked at further by city council. Erin Chalmers has the details and speaks to a member of the Grand Trunk Dog Park Committee more about the issue.
“We’re asking for fencing, to deal with the safety issues,” Zahara explained. “At the most, probably $70,000. Why not take a little bit of that tree money and put it into the fencing?”
“I understand their concern and we’ll probably be debating that tomorrow,” Councillor Bev Esslinger said.
READ MORE: City of Edmonton plans to fence in dogs
Esslinger added the report really represents the next stage in the conversation.
“The last meeting they said ‘we need a plan to do a pilot project’ and now we have a plan and who will pay for what and what needs to have some additional funding requirements.”
She also explained the idea to have the park users fundraise for the fence isn’t a new one.
“We use that strategy in a lot of our amenities, whether it’s a playground, a community league building for an ice rink,” Esslinger said. “This is saying the users come together and say ‘we wanted extra and we can work with the city to make this happen.”
For years, north Edmonton dog owners have been pushing the city to build a fence around the park.
In April 2015, a group of citizens, including Zahara, asked City Hall to consider fencing the park off. The city said consultation would take place and a report would be done.
The un-fenced park runs along 127 Avenue and 113A Street. Dog owners report three pets have died after running from owners and into traffic.
Community members estimate it will cost between $50,000 and $70,000 to build a fence around the Grand Trunk off-leash park.
The city report put the cost of a fence at $56,000.
“We’re not suggesting that all off-leash dog parks should be fenced,” Zahara said. “This may be the only one that gets done but this one is the most dangerous.”
But at least one other dog owner says if your pets don’t have good recall skills, they shouldn’t be off-leash in the first place.
“You teach your dogs how to respond to a certain command,” Susan Ryan said. “If they don’t come back? Get them on a leash.”
However, if the city is going to shell out money for some upgrades to the park, she understands the push for a fence.
“127 is a busy road,” Ryan said. “That one I can see getting fenced.”
WATCH: Grand Trunk dog park fence?
The special amenities the report recommends the city not pay for include 10 benches, two-level water fountain, two new replacement kiosk/notice boards and a separated fenced area. Those features are estimated to cost a total of $76,226.
The standard amenities the report suggests council pay for are pegged at $270,738.
The report also recommends council approve the proposed Dogs in Open Spaces Pilot Project.
Edmonton’s Dogs in Open Spaces 10-year Strategy sets out guidelines for categorizing the city’s 41 off-leash parks.
On Monday, councillors will hear the plan and will decide if they’ll support it.
“Which initiates the consultation,” Esslinger said, “which initiates upgraded standards of amenities at this park and to keep on course to make sure that we have a place for developing fenced off-leash areas in the future in the city.”
WATCH: Dog owners are armed with information and they’re ready to head back to City Hall and plead their case to keep pets safe. They’ve been asking for a fence around the Grand Trunk off-leash dog park for nearly a decade. As Sarah Kraus reports, who’s paying for it is up for debate.
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