A new 3,000 m2 off-leash area for dogs is coming to Pelmo Park, proposed to replace the ball hockey pads at the north end of the park. The off-leash area will be designed with the help of community feedback and is planned to include a fence with a double-gated entrance/exit, durable dog-friendly surfacing, seating and picnic tables, an accessible pathway to the off-leash area and a bottle filler with a dog bowl.
Project Timeline
- Fall 2024: Hire a design team
- Winter 2025: Community engagement
- Spring 2025: Design development and detailed design
- Spring/Summer 2025: Hire a construction team
- Fall 2025: Construction starts
- Winter 2025: Construction complete
The timeline is subject to change.
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Project Updates
Summer 2024
Online Thought Exchange Activity
From July 22 to August 7, an online thought exchange activity collected 501 ideas and 7,750 ideas ratings from 557 participants.
Review a full summary of the results in the Online Thought Exchange Activity interactive report.
Feedback Summary
When asked about the proposed location of the off-leash area:
- 67 per cent of participants preferred Area 1
- 33 per cent of participants preferred Area 2
If an off-leash area was added at Pelmo Park:
- 75 per cent of participants would use it
- 25 per cent of participants would not use it
- Seven per cent would start visiting the park
- 66 per cent would visit the park more
- 11 per cent would visit the park less
- Four per cent would stop visiting the park
- 11 per cent would not change how often they visit the park
When asked if they were in favour of adding an off-leash area at Pelmo Park or had any objections or concerns:
- 80 per cent of participants were in favour of adding an off-leash area
- 11 per cent were not in favour of adding an off-leash area
The most popular thoughts in favour of adding an off-leash area included:
- The large number of dogs in the area
- The lack of off-leash areas nearby
- The large number of off-leash dogs in the park and their proximity to kids and other park users
- A place for dogs to exercise and stay healthy
- A place for both dogs and their owners to socialize
The most popular thoughts objecting to or sharing concerns about adding an off-leash area included:
- It will be too close to the playground, splash pad, sports fields/courts, school, or highway
- Coyotes in the area may attack dogs (ensure fencing is tall enough to prevent coyotes from entering off-leash area)
- Dogs will attack, injure or spread disease to other dogs
- Dog owners will not supervise or control their dogs
- Dog owners will not clean up after their dogs
- Dog owners will continue to let their dogs off-leash in other areas of the park
- It will make the park less safe for park users, especially kids
- The ball hockey court will be removed if Area 1 is selected
Other popular thoughts included:
- Ensure the off-leash area is large enough to allow dogs to exercise and to accommodate the large number of dogs in the area
- Avoid gravel as it can cause dogs pain and discomfort
- Include a water station for dogs to stay hydrated
- Create separate sections for large and small dogs
- Include shaded areas
- Include a fenced pathway for off-leash dogs
