Leash-free zone proposals discussed

An "officious" city bylaw officer slapped Wilson with a $270 fine for momentarily letting Maggie off-leash in Humber Bay Park West.

Wilson fought the fine in court. Ultimately, he and a courtroom full of other dog walkers accepted a prosecutor's offer to plead guilty and pay half the fine.

That's when Wilson turned advocate.

A year ago, he and a fellow dog walker formed a dog-owner association, then filed a simple application on the city's website to propose an off-leash area beyond Etobicoke Yacht Club and Mimico Cruising Club, about 600 feet beyond the road's end in Humber Bay Park West.

"Had I never gotten a ticket, I likely never would have pursued this," Wilson said. "I thought, 'Wouldn't that area be perfect for a dog park.' It's so isolated. No one picnics there. It's not near kids or playgrounds. It's great."

Within the city's 1,470 parks are 35 approved off-leash areas, the majority in the old city of Toronto. http://www.toronto.ca/parks/dogsoffleash_list.htm

City parks staff reviewed Wilson's application, conducted an onsite tour and applied Toronto's People, Dogs and Parks Strategy Off-Leash Policy to the location.

Wilson's proposed site met the policy criteria, as did another site proposed for the RL Clark Water Treatment Plant in Colonel Samuel Smith Park, said Carol Cormier, city manager of parks standards and innovation.

City parks officials host a public information meeting Monday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at The Assembly Hall, east room, to discuss the two off-leash proposals and to receive public input.

In September, the city held a public meeting in the neighbourhood attended by about 40 residents to present an overview of its off-leash policy and the off-leash park application process.

"We told the folks in Ward 6 we'd try to get them something (an off-leash area) up and running before the end of the year," Cormier said staff told residents at the September meeting.

It could happen.

An off-leash area at the RL Clark Water Treatment Plant would likely open first, Cormier said, since it doesn't require a fence.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority officials require a fence for the Humber Bay Park West proposal as a condition of its approval, which could mean a spring opening if the winter freeze comes soon.

Joanne Tobler proposed the RL Clark Water Treatment Plant off-leash site in Colonel Samuel Smith Park last summer where she often walks her four dogs - a chihuahua, a pug-schitzu cross, a Jack Russell-Corgi cross and a Black Lab.

The area is flat land, away from boaters and Humber College.

"I think it's important that dogs can be dogs like letting kids be kids," Tobler said. "Dogs need to run, have their own space, make friends with other dogs, socialize. It's important that people socialize their dogs for safety reasons."

Interest in new off-leash areas runs high in the Humber Bay Shores, Mimico, New Toronto, Long Branch and Alderwood neighbourhoods.

The only off-leash dog park in the entire area is in Don Russell Park adjacent to Lakeshore Collegiate.

But that off-leash zone is set to close, to make way for an $800,000 FIFA artificial turf soccer field with lighting to be donated to the high school by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

At present, there are 27 off-leash proposals for parks across Toronto (http://www.toronto.ca/parks/dogsoffleash_proposed.htm). Another 21 proposals were denied because of conflict with existing park uses, or proximity to ravines, floodplain or wetlands. (http://www.toronto.ca/parks/dogs_denied.htm

Recently, officials held a public meeting on a proposal to create an off-leash area in King's Mill Park south of Bloor Street West. Another local off-leash area is proposed for Beresford Park.

New off-leash areas across Toronto recently opened include the waterfront's Coronation Park near Exhibition Place and Merrill Bridge Park. Greenwood Park and Gerrard Carlaw Parkette only need fencing. Hideaway Park is under renovation.

In 2007, Toronto Council approved the plan to develop more off-leash zones for dogs in Toronto.

At the time, the overuse and overcrowding of existing off-leash areas led to routine rule-breaking by some dog owners who either ran their dogs off-leash outside designated times, or in areas or parks not intended for off-leash use, a June 2007 parks staff report indicates.

Conflict increased between dog owners and other park users.

The new policy costs the city about $1.1 million a year to operate, plus about $400,000 a year in capital costs such as installing fencing and natural barriers.

New rules call for measures such as fencing in off-leash areas within 10 metres of horticultural displays, playgrounds, splash pads, wading pools and sports fields.

Fines aren't an issue in off-leash parks, Cormier reported.

"People are very happy to get their off-leash area," Cormier said. "They really work well together as a community so they get along. They respect the area. They want to keep it. I'm not aware of any charges that have been laid in an off-leash area."