The University Neighborhoods Association is making progress on the proposed off-leash dog park in Wesbrook.
Public consultations on the proposal were completed in December, with staff presenting findings to the UNA board on Jan. 21. That marked an important step in improving the park’s design and addressing community feedback.
“The UNA has, just before the holiday season, completed the round of community engagement,” Paul Thorkelsson, the UNA’s chief administrative officer, said.
“Further detailed design of the park based on the input received is necessary before a costing of the design can be carried out. That work is intended to proceed following the board’s consideration of the community engagement and input.”
Following the meeting, the UNA sent the draft plan back to the landscape architects for changes. A revised plan will reflect community feedback and concerns and provide an updated project budget.
The dog park would be located near the Wesbrook Community Centre, the Wesbrook Community Field, and the splash pad. The area now includes beach volleyball courts—the plan would keep two of the courts.
An online and paper survey was conducted as part of the consultation. Of 243 respondents, 60 per cent indicated strong support for a dog park at the proposed site while 14 per cent were strongly opposed. The majority of respondents, 62 percent, were dog owners. The survey did not provide a breakdown of how dog owners and people without dogs felt about the issue.
Despite general support for the project, some residents raised concerns about its impact or felt that the space would be better used for other community priorities.
Board members emphasized several issues. These included addressing community concerns about safety, the impact on nearby areas, the park’s vicinity to the splash pad, and the need for separate areas for large and small dogs. Board members were also concerned that dog owners will need to be accountable and follow rules that will be set for park use.
The consultations heard calls for features such as shaded seating areas and fresh water taps for pets. However, board members noted that such features must be balanced against the costs.
The proposed site, north of Birney Avenue near Ross Drive and Webber Lane, was selected by a working group. It was chosen based on its central location and other nearby recreational spaces. The site is also reserved for an elementary school, but construction isn’t expected for five to 10 years.
Introductory designs include two fenced areas: one for small dogs and one for large dogs. Proposed amenities include shaded seating, pathways, and waste disposal stations.
The park is estimated to cost $200,000. The UNA hopes to secure funding from the Metro Vancouver community works fund. An additional $30,000 for contingencies would be financed from the UNA’s operations budget.
Discussions regarding whether the UNA would apply a dog control bylaw were left for another time.
The UNA hopes to open the park this summer.
POURIA KARIMI ATTENDS UNIVERSITY HILL SECONDARY SCHOOL.