Fencing debated in off-leash zones

Fencing debated in off-leash zones. An off-leash dog park is coming to the Humber Bay Park West in Etobicoke next spring as well as RL Clark Water Treatment Plant in Colonel Samuel Smith Park. Stock image

A new 0.7-hectare off-leash zone on the southwest arm of the south Etobicoke lakefront park will open next spring, Toronto parks officials confirmed at a public meeting Monday night, Dec. 7 at The Assembly Hall.

"I'm extremely pleased to see the city included the whole tip and enlarged the area by a third," said Wilson, who applied to the city a year ago for the Humber Bay Park West off-leash area south of the Etobicoke Yacht Club and Mimico Cruising Club.

"What an ideal spot. It's not used by people very much and it's not a habitat sanctuary."

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

Some 65 people, most dog owners, at Monday night's meeting overwhelmingly supported south Etobicoke's two proposed off-leash areas - the second at RL Clark Water Treatment Plant in Colonel Samuel Smith Park.

Both off-leash areas are set to open next spring.

The turnout was the largest ever for a city-held public information meeting on suitability-assessed off-leash dog area proposals, said Carol Cormier, city manager of parks standards and innovation.

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

South Etobicoke's only off-leash area in Don Russell Park recently closed to make way for an $800,000 FIFA artificial turf soccer field to be donated to neighbouring Lakeshore Collegiate.

Fencing emerged as dog owners' primary concern with both proposed off-leash areas.

Dog owners largely opposed fencing the off-leash area at Humber Bay Park West and urged fencing where none was planned in Colonel Samuel Smith Park.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority cited the danger of strong lake currents in the area in making fencing a condition of its approval of an off-leash area in Humber Bay Park West, which it owns.

City officials pledged to revisit the fencing issue with the authority at the urging of dog owners who said they want their dogs to be able to swim in Lake Ontario.

"The issue with water is ridiculous," said one man, who takes his dog to Marie Curtis Park. "At the Etobicoke Creek, dogs swim better than people. It's a non-issue."

Benches and garbage cans will be installed in both off-leash areas, which will be regularly monitored by city bylaw enforcement officers.

A new 0.6-hectare off-leash area proposed in Colonel Samuel Smith Park at 23rd Street that meets city criteria also drew the widespread support of dog owners, most of whom urged it be fenced.

Parks officials had not intended to fence the area.

"It seems a lot of potential conflicts could be dealt with by fencing in off-leash areas," said dog owner Angela Barnes. "I'd feel a lot better if my dog was fenced in. People who are afraid of dogs don't need to go near the off-leash area."

Dog owners also recommended a swampy area be filled and coyote signs be posted after recent sightings.

The new off-leash 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.

Owners learned dogs in off-leash areas must be licensed and under owners' voice control. The fine for not having a dog licence is $240.

The city's policy prohibits pit bulls, female dogs in heat and non-neutered males from off-leash areas.

Off-leash areas are closed between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

Currently, there are 35 approved off-leash areas within the city's 1,470 parks, the majority in the old city of Toronto.

http://www.toronto.ca/parks/dogsoffleash_list.htm

Recently, three applications for off-leash areas in Etobicoke were denied, citing proximity to wetlands and conflicting existing park uses at King's Mill Park (north of Bloor Street West), Michael Power Park and Grand Avenue Park.

In October, city officials held a public information meeting for an off-leash area proposed for King's Mill Park south of Bloor Street West that meets city policy criteria. Commercial dog walking will be permitted there due to the size of the off-leash area.