A few months ago I put forward a motion asking administration to expand on the open spaces master plan and to identify further areas in Cochrane we can use for off leash. I also asked administration to identify area’s in our new and existing communities that may support a shared off leash at certain times of day. Last month administration came back with further options and timelines that we can expect more dog parks and off leash areas. They also identified several areas that we could incorporate a four-month pilot project to see the benefits and challenges that a shared off leash would provide. A location in Sunset was chosen for the pilot and although the response has been mostly positive, there have been a number of questions. I would like to give a little background on why I decided to put forward this idea and answer some of the most common questions I have been emailed.
Cochrane currently has 7,493 residential properties. In these properties there are over 4,000 dogs. The community of Sunset has 1,486 residential properties and approximately 700 dogs. Currently we have two off-leash areas, one is the pathway along the river going towards spray lakes recreation and the other is on the west side of the bridge. As both of these areas are on our paved path there are kids running and riding bikes, walkers, joggers, and dog owners all sharing this space.
One of the main concerns of residents in this town is traffic. With the addition of not only shared off leash but dog parks as well, we could potentially take vehicles off the road. We could lighten the congestion in our current off leash space, especially the one along the river by Spray Lakes as it will only get busier, especially down the road when our pathway will connect to the Glenbow Provincial Park pathway. I also noticed in a lot of our communities, some dog owners run their dogs off leash in non-designated area’s which include, school yards and playgrounds. I believe that if we can offer a designated area in each community this will help alleviate a lot of this problem.
In every new development we are given 10 per cent of the land for MR (Municipal Reserve) as you can imagine after we allocate schools and playgrounds, pathways and parks there is usually nothing left from that 10 per cent. Finding a creative, viable solution that benefits the entire community is of utmost importance.
What is the cost of the pilot project?
The cost of running this pilot is $5,000. A good portion of the monies will be for additional garbage cans, plastic bag holders etc. Should this pilot not be successful these items can be removed and used elsewhere in town.
Public engagement is expensive. Professional charts, staff regular and overtime, room rentals all can add up to 10’s of thousands of dollars. This pilot project is intended to be a FOUR-MONTH TRIAL that is asking for your feedback. What is positive and what is negative about this shared off leash. Your comments and suggestions will determine what is working, what isn’t, whether we can move forward with this project in other communities or if it’s something that has too many challenges to make it worthwhile.
Everywhere you walk in Cochrane you are bound to run into wildlife. That is one of the things that is great about living where we do. I have encountered deer, moose, black bear and coyotes in several areas along our pathways. Off leash is not permitted to be run through any identified wildlife corridors.
Will this shared off leash be allowed in playgrounds and schools?
No, the off leash is not permitted to run through playgrounds or schools. My concern is that with the lack of options for residents who own dogs, particularly large dogs that require more exercise; owners may feel they have no choice but to utilize existing playgrounds and school fields.
We will be monitoring the times closely. The 9 p.m. start was identified as the quieter time on the pathway and with it being light later should allow that walk before bed. Till 9 a.m. gives residents a chance to run their dogs before work. As mentioned this is a pilot so feedback on the times will be important.
On leash or off, unfortunately there will always be people that do not pick up after their dog. From my experience it is always a small percentage of people that tend to ruin it for the much larger responsible population of dog owners. We will make sure there is an abundance of poop bags and garbage cans and that the area will be monitored by bylaw, but at the end of the day we need dog owners to be responsible. There is a huge commitment from the owners at our current off leash areas as several times a year they do a sweep of the pathway to ensure it is picked up properly. They hold each other accountable and my expectation would be that the same respect be shown at all off leash areas in town.
This off leash is not intended to be a regional off leash area. It is simply meant to give an option to the residents that live in Sunset that want to exercise their dogs. Should this pilot be successful we will take the public feedback and consultation we receive and apply this to several other communities within Cochrane.
Please keep in mind this is a pilot project to weigh out the benefits and feasibility. This trial is not going unnoticed in other communities surrounding Cochrane. During the course of this pilot project your suggestions and willingness to keep an open mind will be extremely important and play a key role in the development of this initiative.
Jeff Toews, councillor, Town of Cochrane
