Petawawa council rejects Civic Centre site for leash-free dog park
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The town will not be operating a leash-free dog park at the Civic Centre.
Council voted 4-2 this week against setting up a park at the Civic Centre. Staff had recommended the location after concluding a six-month pilot project at the facility’s “Back 40.”
In January, councillors had supported the establishment of a park but sought options as to where it should be located. Staff initially recommended the Indians Ball Diamond off Victoria Street as a suitable location for a permanent park. However, a two-acre parcel on the Civic Centre’s ground was finally determined to be the best spot.
Delivering his written report, parks and recreation manager Kelly Williams explained to council that the town has a significant dog population per capita that will likely escalate further with the growth in the municipality. He advised that council did have two alternatives: rely on bylaw enforcement to deter users from going to public parks, or do nothing and continue to attempt to manage the situation with existing facilities.
“Given the current hours of operation of town parks, the physical size of town-owned parks and green-spaces and the amount of dogs currently residing in Petawawa, this undertaking would be unmanageable given current municipal resources,” he stated in his report.
Williams told council that the newly created open space on the Civic Centre site would be located in an area that has no current long-term expansion or development planned for it. It would provide a combination of open and shaded areas for users. It would also provide existing parking off of Civic Centre Road. Once it was set up, a leash-free dog park public liaison committee would be assembled. The committee, as part of its responsibilities, can provide the various amenities, such as kiosks, benches and agility features, that will be required within the park through ongoing fundraising efforts.
However, councillors by and large favoured the second potential host location for the park at the Pembroke and Area Airport, on the site of Renfrew County Expo 150. With that location, Williams warned, there would be increased costs. He was also doubtful that residents would drive out there just to walk their canine friends.
“Pilot project data along with comments received by users of the current temporary facility on an ongoing basis indicate that while the airport property offers many positive attributes, by location alone it will not provide the same level of service as a leash-free dog park centrally located in town,” Williams stated.
Mayor Bob Sweet supported the recommendation, noting that many families in the community own a dog.
“There’s a huge need for a dog park in the Town of Petawawa,” he said.
“The Civic Centre is the place where it should be. It is the centre of the community. It is the ideal location,” Sweet added.
Staff estimated $40,000 to primarily construct fencing required to create the dog park enclosure. Williams recommended implementing a fee program to be built into the existing Dog and Cat Licensing Program as a means of generating funds to be directed towards offsetting both construction and annual operating costs.
With 1,800 registered dog owners in the town, that would amount to $9,000 in fees a year. It is estimated it would cost $1,000 to operate the park annually.
The remaining funds from the fees would recover the initial cost to build the park, Williams added.
Councillor Treena Lemay had a problem with the concept, stating that not every pet owner will be using the park but will be paying for it. Councillor Frank Cirella added that the $40,000 price tag is too high for him and stated he didn’t believe ratepayers should fork out the money for such a facility. He remarked that even if a leash-free park were in place, that is not going to stop people from letting their dogs loose at the Petawawa Terrace Provincial Park. Others had a problem with the recommendations while stating they were not against the concept of a leash-free dog park.
“I’m not struck on the location at the Civic Centre,” said Deputy Mayor Tom Mohns. “Someday we are going to need that property for something else. If we are going to put it in there it had better be something temporary. If it’s permanent, then it’s going to cost us money to get it out of there down the road.”
However, Councillor James Carmody, who voted for the park, agreed with a user-pay system where separate coloured tags could be used by owners.
He added it wouldn’t cost much to take the fence out if the property is needed for something else.
Indicating her support for the airport, Councillor Theresa Sabourin said there are too many risks associated with the Civic Centre location.
Sean Chase is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist
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