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LETTER: Why propose a dog park at a people park?

Or improve existing leash-free parks, reader suggests
GuelphToday Staff
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GuelphToday received the following letter to the editor from reader Dan Toone regarding the Bristol Street leash-free dog park proposal:

I wonder are city staff actually looking for city property that will not impact residents? If so, why are they looking at using people parks instead of using unused city land or improving already operational Off-Leash Parks?

I looked at the Bristol Street proposal and thought why not across Wellington (using the light controlled cross-walk) is a stretch of riverside land (from Howitt Creek to this cross-walk) that could be fenced in and used for the dog park.

I looked at the Hanlon Creek dog park and wondered why this would not be better used? Not enough parking? I measured (using Google Maps – approximately 260 metres of parking) and I estimate 760 cars could be parked along Hanlon Road allowing many dogs to go walking – and off-leash once they get to the Off-Leash Park. 200+ metres seems to be the nominal distance between lights and/or cross-walks in Onward Willow and the commercial area at Gordon and Clair.

I looked at the Stone Road/College Street Off-Leash Park. With a little restructuring of the guard rails and a small encroachment into the bushes on the south side, there could be 18 comfortable parking spaces. If allowed, extending along the walking area, to the west, could increase the parking – it is a gravel lot.

I finally looked at Eastview Park. There is lots of scrubland close to the sports fields without disturbing sporting events. Look at the 300+ metres between Watson Pkwy and the walking path from the Couling Crescent intersection. Although not very wide (there are lots of trees separating the park from Watson Pkwy) it is already fenced along Watson Pkwy and would need fencing along the walking path with a couple of gates to allow dogs and owners access. Also, this area is not designated for anything, except open space, in the Eastview Community Park/Pollinators Park Master Plan.

Maybe one or all of you can see that your staff do a better job at looking for unused or open space for dog parks or updating the parking at the ones we already have.

Thank you.
Dan Toone