Off-leash dog park demand up: report

A “steady and growing demand” for off-leash dog parks could see the city spend $500,000 to establish new parks in Saskatoon by 2016, says a report to city council.

Off-leash dog walking is a healthy activity that deserves more support from the city, the city’s administration wrote in a report to the administration and finance committee.

There are six off-leash parks in Saskatoon and the development of three more — including the redesigned Chief Whitecap Park — are underway.

More off-leash parks scattered across the city would be convenient for dog owners, said Kris Mihilewicz, who was out walking his two dogs, Odie and Buddy, on Friday afternoon.

“It’s harder and harder to give your dogs exercise in the city,” he said. “If there was a park near my house, I would definitely use it. It’d be nice not drive. It defeats the purpose to drive 15 minutes to a park to walk your dogs.”

But the city should ensure the parks are attractive for residents, Mihilewicz added.

“If it was a smaller park and fenced in, I’d be less inclined to use it,” he said.

City officials will wait for council approval before deciding where to establish the new off-leash parks. A plan would require a review of existing city-owned property to determine the location, number and size of new parks.

Public consultation would precede a final development plan, says the report. The city aims to establish the off-leash parks in neighbourhoods with high concentrations of dog ownership, said the report.

The city expects to spend $100,000 annually from 2012 to 2016 to develop new off-leash parks. Once the parks are built, operations would be funded by dog licensing revenue.

The administration and finance committee will receive the recommendations at a meeting on Tuesday.

jjwarren@sp.canwest.com