News Release
New Off-Leash Strategy Not in Effect Until This Fall
(Tuesday, July 24/07)-- Halifax Regional Municipality reminds residents that a strategy to temporarily designate five new parks as off-leash areas does not come in effect until this Fall.
In the meantime, Seaview Park and sections of Point Pleasant Park remain the only legal off-leash park areas.
The five new proposed off-leash parks-- Shubie Park, Dartmouth Commons, Hemlock Ravine Regional, Sandy Lake regional Park and Fort Needham Memorial Park-- will temporarily be designated off-leash for a 12-month trial basis, beginning this fall.
In order to determine the off-leash design requirements of these parks, HRM will be seeking further public input at five workshops in the coming weeks.
District 6 Councillor Andrew Younger said today some dog owners understood from media reports that Shubie Park is now an off-leash area in its entirety. This is not the case.
"While I understand dog owners are eager to have an off-leash area in Shubie Park, at this time the entire park remains an on-leash zone," says Councillor Younger. "A public workshop scheduled for August 5th in District 6 will help HRM staff determine what area of the park will be designated off-leash friendly beginning in September. There is no intent to make the entire park off-leash, and under the procedure approved by Regional Council no part of the park is off-leash until September."
In an effort to encourage responsible pet ownership, Councillor Younger will be handing out refillable dog waste bags and dispensers branded with the phrase "Help protect our parks. Please pick up after your pets" to the first 75 attendees at the workshop in his District.
District 16 Councillor Debbie Hum also has concerns about dog owners allowing their pets off-leash in Hemlock Ravine Regional Park, the soon-to-be-designated area in her District.
“There's been a lot of misinformation and confusion regarding how and when the off- leash dog strategy would be implemented in each of the five pilot project parks", said Councillor Hum. “The public consultation workshops will allow good dialogue, workable and balanced options for each pilot project park. Our parks are for everyone and the successful implementation of the strategy will ensure all parties are respected, ensure proper signage is posted to inform the public of the times and routes, as well as additional public awareness strategies, compliance and enforcement." she said.
For more information about the off-leash strategy please visit: http://www.halifax.ca/real_property/OffLeashParksStrategy.html
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Councillor Andrew Younger
District 6-East Dartmouth/The Lakes
476-1727
Councillor Debbie Hum
District 16- Rockingham/Wentworth
476-7212
