After months of controversy surrounding a canine park in Ottawa’s west finish, an answer has been reached to divide the park in half.
Residents have been at odds with each other since September when town eliminated the gates at Garfield Park, after it was introduced as a completely fenced-in off-leash canine park final summer time.
The concept turned out to be a mistake.
“Beneath a mixed-use designation you’ll be able to’t have a park be unique to 1 person or one other and so the gates got here off,” stated space councillor, Laine Johnson.
After public session within the type of a survey, town is now dividing the park in half with a fenced-in area for canines on one aspect and an open area on the opposite.
“There are individuals who don’t desire the park and don’t love canines, or they really feel that they cannot stroll via the park,” stated canine proprietor, Karen Toupin.
Within the survey, residents had two choices to select from. The primary, depart the park as is with out the gates and the second, {split} the park in half with canines designated on one aspect. The bulk selected the latter.
“I feel it is creating one other division in our group,” stated canine proprietor, Anastasia Machan. “I do not suppose we’d like that in our society proper now.”
“The park is so standard that I feel that is going to be too small an space, so it is disappointing,” stated one other canine proprietor, Alan Bradshaw.
Whereas some say town does not have sufficient fenced-in areas for canines as it’s, others need to see the park used for different issues.
“Only a few sources have gone into doing something with this park or having any aspirations for this park,” stated resident Larry Iveson.
“I feel there are many questions that town must reply. The method and the insurance policies and the procedures which can be going via aren’t fully clear but.”
Many residents had been disillusioned there was no third possibility on the survey – to place the gates again up at Garfield Park and depart your entire area as a canine park.
“I feel it’s kind of foolish. I do know that is anecdotal proof, however I’ve solely seen one particular person ever use it as not a canine park,” stated canine proprietor, Kylie Meek.
In an announcement, the Metropolis of Ottawa says: “Fenced parks which can be designated as ‘Canines Allowed off Leash’ are a leisure amenity constructed right into a portion of present parks. There are not any examples of complete parks being fenced solely for using canines. Parks with fenced areas for canines are designated as ‘combined’ and permit for canines off leash inside the fenced space, and canines on-leash for the remainder of the park to offer for entry to the fenced area.”
Marilynn R. Glasser, president of Canine Park Ideas and Consulting, has labored with a number of municipalities and says town’s strategy is ill-advised.
“I’m blown away that town is taking a perspective that manner. It might behoove them to perform a little research and assign a workers member to search out out somewhat extra about canine parks,” she stated.
“Many communities have developed canine parks on out there properties that aren’t in present parks. In different phrases, these could also be thought of ‘stand-alone’ canine parks, unattached versus being created inside an present park. I really feel {that a} frequent downside with cities in relation to the event of canine parks is that many of us nonetheless think about these services novelties.”
It is unclear when the brand new fencing shall be in place, however Johnson says she’s hoping to see it finished earlier than the winter.
“I’ve definitely been advocating for this to go quicker; it is already been too sluggish. I’ve expressed my dissatisfaction and disappointment with that. In that very same vein, I’ve stated we’ve got to get this up earlier than snow comes,” Johnson stated.
“In the end, we can not create an unique canine park right here and the design de facto did that and insurance policies do not permit for that. So, we’re attempting to do the most effective we are able to by giving all people somewhat little bit of what was essential to them.”
Johnson is hoping the answer brings some positivity again into the group, throwing round concepts on how everybody can come collectively as soon as the undertaking is completed.
