The City of Victoria could test off-leash hours in two more city parks starting this summer.
Mayor Lisa Helps plans to bring a motion to councillors next week recommending the city allow dogs to be off-leash in Fisherman’s Wharf Park between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m., and 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. as part of a pilot program.
Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe suggested a similar test might be appropriate for mornings at Gonzales Beach.
Helps raised the idea last week while discussing the city’s new parks and open spaces master plan.
The plan suggests developing a strategy for dogs in parks.
There are about 75 city parks in Victoria, and they include 13 off-leash areas.
With the exception of these off-leash areas and private property, all dogs must be on a leash in Victoria.
“It’s probably well known … that I like to learn things by doing,” Helps said.
“So if we’re going to do a dogs in parks strategy, why not pilot a couple of things while we’re doing the strategy to see whether that’s successful or not?”
Helps said she has been approached by residents about the need for off-leash times in Fisherman’s Wharf Park and noted the neighbourhood has no leash-optional areas.
“There are seniors who aren’t getting their social opportunities,” she said.
“There are people who are getting in their cars to drive down to Dallas Road with their dogs — so there’s an increase in greenhouse gas emissions — when they’ve got a perfectly good park across the street.”
Helps said one woman who came to her about the idea saw it as a community wellness opportunity.
“She also said a number of the hotels in the area are starting to take dogs and it would be great for them,” Helps said.
The city has received a letter from a hotel supporting the idea, she said.
Helps conceded that the issue of dogs in parks is a no-win for local politicians.
“It’s very challenging and we need to make sure that parks are available for a number of users,” she said.
“They’re sought-after spaces.”
Off-leash areas in Victoria parks
• Alexander — 6-10 a.m. and 4-10 p.m. daily
• Arbutus — 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
• Banfield — 6-9 a.m. and 5-10 p.m. from April 1 to Sept. 30; 6 a.m.-10 p.m. from Oct. 1 to March 31
• Beacon Hill (south of Dallas Road from Douglas Street to Clover Point) — all day year round
• Clover Point — all day year round
• Gonzales Beach — all day from Sept. 1 to May 31
• Oswald — 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
• Pemberton — 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
• Redfern — 6-10 a.m. and 4-10 p.m. daily
• Songhees Hilltop — 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
• Topaz Sportfield — 6-10 a.m. and 4-10 p.m. from Monday to Friday; 6-8 a.m. and 5-10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
• Topaz Park alternate off-leash area — 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
• Vic West — 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
