Humber Bay off-leash area offers majestic view.
A dog park has been created by the City of Toronto at the end of Humber Bay Park West that is fenced and allows the dogs to run leash free. (July 29, 2010)
Staff photo/IAN KELSO
The pooches run leash-free amid one of the most serene, enviable views of the Toronto skyline.
Humber Bay Park West's new fenced off-leash area opened in spring.
"People are saying that Humber Bay is one of the most beautiful (off-leash areas) in the city," said Carol Cormier, city manager of parks standards and innovation, who oversees the off-leash parks file.
"For all the off-leash areas, response has been very positive. People like them. They respect them. They use them. They take care of them."
Currently, there are 43 off-leash areas within the city's 1,470 parks, the majority in the old city of Toronto.
Toronto Community News visited the new off-leash run three times in recent weeks, but found no takers - either four- or two-legged. Cobwebs had grown atop a little-used garbage can. Only crickets and a late summer wind rustling tree leaves broke the stillness.
But Cormier said dog owners are finding the spot. It's a fair hike in from the parking lot on the farthest southwest arm of the eastern Etobicoke waterfront park.
"I believe they're using it. I've heard from the councillor's office. We've had a few emails come in saying people are liking it," she said. "I've also heard from one of our parks supervisors that a lot of people from the High Park off-leash area are going down to Humber Bay West."
Cormier said city officials would consider installing directional signage to the off-leash zone if they learn dog owners can't locate the site.
"Build it and they will come," she said. "You bring your dog, get a book, sit down there, enjoy the breeze and the lake. How can you go wrong?"
Realtor Scott Wilson said he deliberately proposed the isolated area in the south Etobicoke lakefront park to avoid conflict with other park users.
The Humber Bay Shores resident applied to the city for the off-leash area in 2008.
Wilson turned advocate after a city bylaw officer slapped him with a $270 fine for momentarily letting his labradoodle, Maggie, off-leash in Humber Bay Park West.
"What an ideal spot. It's not used by people very much and it's not a habitat sanctuary," Wilson said last December after a public meeting where city officials reported the approved off-leash zone would be one-third larger than Wilson had proposed.
Recently, city officials fenced the new Colonel Samuel Smith Park off-leash area, although none was originally planned.
Meanwhile, Etobicoke's first off-leash area in Don Russell Memorial Park remains a dog park - for now.
"It's still up, running," Cormier said. "We're going to leave it status quo until they develop the site."
The off-leash area could become adjacent Lakeshore Collegiate's new football field.
The Toronto public school board intends to install an $800,000 FIFA artificial turf soccer field and dome, either on the high school's existing football field, or to the north field which is the off-leash zone.
Toronto's general manager of water must approve the location.
- with files from Cynthia Reason