Location for Coalhurst Dog Park approved

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Nikki Jamieson
Sunny South News

A location and funds have been approved for what would be the first off-leash dog park in Coalhurst.

During Coalhurst town council’s regular Aug. 20 meeting, council reviewed a report regarding the potential of a dog park in town.

The report from the Wetlands Enhancement Advisory Committee noted that during public engagement sessions for the town’s wetlands, residents had indicated a desire for a local dog park. Subsequent committee discussions found that as the community has prioritized a number of amenities that promote public gatherings and recreation, a dog park in the wetlands area would impede on this, and another location for this amenity would be preferable. The committee recommends using a space north of the wetlands for the dog park, located off 55th Ave and Range Road 22-3.

This proposed location would allow for recreation opportunities in the wetlands park to focus on people, and keep any dog-related noise, odour, or degradation that may be associated with an off-leash dog park away from the Wetlands Park. Additionally, by ensuring dogs are on-leash in the wetlands park, it will help with bylaw enforcement for the area.

The proposed location for the off-leash dog park is not suitable for housing or commercial development, and if approved, the dog park would be able to have a designated parking lot, a six-foot fence, and double gated entrance to ensure safety of both the dog and dog owners. A pathway system could potentially connect the dog park to the wetlands park, and the dog park itself could also be upgraded in the future to include things such as an agility course.

The project has a budget of up to $160,00, which includes six-foot high fencing at $60,000; a gravel pathway at $40/metre for a total of $60,000; 4 garbage bins, 4 dog waste stations, 4 benches for $12,000; and a parking lot area budgeted at $25,000. The funds could come from the money set aside for the 2024 Wetlands improvements, which at that point of time, had been only allocated for consulting fees and garbage bins.

If approved, construction would begin in 2025.

Coun. Scott Akkermans asked what connectivity would be for the pathways systems for the dog park, noting there was an item in the proposed budget for it. Director of Operations Kevin Lewis said it was for manufactured materials for a path around the circumference of the off-leash park.

“So basically a subbase structure, and then the gray, pebble rock that compacts, similar to what we have in the community gardens,” said Lewis. “That would be around the exterior of inside the dog park, for people to walk along and have their dogs off leash.”

Coun. Deborah Florence asked if any grants or business and community organization contributions or sponsorships have been considered as a funding source. Interim CAO Karlene Betteridge said that was the next step, should council approve the park.

“Should we not receive any sponsorships or fundraising for such a place for their community, we also have a budget set aside for that, just in case,” said Betteridge, confirming that it would go towards the total cost of the dog park, and not for extras.

Coun. Heather Caldwell voiced support, noting residents have been asking for a dog park fro a while. Akkermans also voiced support.

“I do think the location of this dog park would be in a spot that is not necessarily useable in a lot of ways, but gives the opportunity to meet some of the demand for the community, for what people are looking for,” said Akkermans. 

Florence voiced support, but raised concern that while this was raised by the Wetlands Enhancement Advisory Committee, the location is outside of the wetlands, and raised concerns about funding and budgets.

“I think that we’re going to be running into issues with our funding, and I think we need to be aware of that,” said Florence. “It’s great that we’re going to be looking at grants and sponsorships and alternative funding, but I think that it’s concerning that we’re $160,000 into the budget, and we only have one thing done.”

Coun. Jesse Potrie noted that the dog park was high on the survey results, and noted the discussion was by including the dog park in the wetlands area, it would take away the enjoyment of the area. While Potrie was quick to add that dogs were enjoyable, there were odour concerns. But because of how high it was ranked, they wanted to find a place for it while keeping the park pristine.

“As far as the budget goes too, when we’re looking at all the options we had on the survey, like picnic shelters, gardens and park things like that, all of those things are more expensive then $200,000, so we were going to be out of money regardless,” said Potrie. “It was, well we could do one thing this year, potentially into next year, with that funding that was already set aside, which was a made-up number as our former CAO told us many times, to try to move forward with some of the things we heard from the survey results.”

Mayor Lyndsay Montina voiced support, noting the number was allocated for 2024, and additional funds would need to be allocated for future years depending on what those look like. Caldwell noted that compared to what they spent on the spray park, this was a “low dollar value”, and stressed the social benefits and the value they would get from the dog park.

Council passed a motion to direct administration to create an off-leash dog park for the Town of Coalhurst funded from the Wetlands Enhancement budget, and potential alternate grants or sponsorships, for up to $160,000 in the recommended location.