Guelph City Council going to the dogs Monday night

The hot-topic item of fenced-in dog parks is front and centre Monday night at Guelph City Council.

There are 27 delegates scheduled to address city council on the issue. The city has also received over 225 letters on the matter.

Many of the delegates will be looking to change the mind of council prior to a final vote on closing the Peter Misersky dog park, putting a halt on construction that has started on the Bristol Street dog park and cancelling one one planned for Lee Street Park.

Earlier this month at its Committee of the Whole meeting, council reversed an earlier decision to build three fenced-in dog parks, scrapping all three planned parks, including the one it opened at Peter Misersky Park, and looking for a more appropriate location to build a new one.

Several councillors wanted the current park to remain open while a better location was found, but realized that when the Lee Street and Bristol Street parks were shot down, the idea of keeping Peter Misersky open would only lead to more problems due to how busy it has become.

That decision to close the current parks was heavily influenced by a group of homeowners near Peter Misersky Park who had been dealing with a variety of issues following the opening of the park last September, including noise, garbage and traffic.

Since that vote a large number of people hoping to keep the dog park open have been in touch with the city.

An online petition to keep the dog park open has 4,860 signatures. They want the previously-approved dog parks kept open while a better location is found.

People on both sides of the issue will delegate tonight.

If council confirms its earlier vote to close the Peter Misersky dog park, it will be closed immediately.

The city spent $100,000 setting up the park.

Council will be voting on three recommendations:

1. That the Leash Free implementation plan as approved by Council on June 24, 2019 be amended to remove the proposed fenced leash free facility at Lee Street Park and Bristol Street Park. 

2. That staff be directed to explore the feasibility of a fenced dog park located in a non-residential area, with the report coming to Council for consideration in the 2021 budget.

3. That the leash free dog area at Peter Misersky Park be closed and the infrastructure removed.