Project Summary N-135: Pop Up Off Leash Dog Park Initiative
Proposal to install four seasonal pilot off-leash dog areas across Town parks.
Project Summary
Priority: Discretionary
Public Engagement: Not applicable
Project Name: Pop Up Off Leash Dog Park Initiative
Project ID: 1-2-07250-580 cc730-05/2-2-11302-310 CC1297
Submitted by: Ivan Leung, Director Ivan Leung, Parks
Executive Summary
A member of Council is proposing the installation of four (4) seasonal pilot “pop-up” off leash dog parks, on a one-year basis with considerations for permanent use:
- 80 Atkins – a residential, R-1 zoned lot owned by the Town of View Royal
- Watkiss Way at Game Road – on private property owned by the Capital Regional District (water supply infrastructure)
- View Royal Park – located adjacent the bicycle pump track or the playground
- Little Road Park – an agricultural A-1 zoned lot owned by the Town of View Royal
Staff recommend going through the motions of Parks Master Planning before commencing this project. Council should consider the potential impacts including but not limited to (1) precedence setting, (2) insufficient community engagement with the neighbourhood / nearby homeowners, (3) competing use of the space, (4) liability risk, insurance and requisite agreements with landowners, and (5) impacts to environmental stewardship. See next page for details.
The Town does not have the staffing capacity to maintain the temporary parks, nor the administration capacity to lead volunteers. Operational costs are estimated assuming the inspection and maintenance work is procured via contract work, and staff recommend a request for additional parks staff instead of contracting out the work.
Business problem and opportunity
Although recent community engagement has provided mixed reviews on additional off leash dog parks, a member of Council has heard from residents in the Chilco / Atkins / Six Mile area of a need for more pet friendly amenities. With a proposed project schedule start in 2029, a better idea of community needs, costs and feasibility will be provided as part of the updated Parks and Trails Master Plan (2026-2027). Council suggests a baseline capital cost of $20,000 to install the amenity.
Proposed project objectives
To install temporary fencing and access gate at four locations within Town Parks and spaces for off leash pet use, complete with doggy bags, garbage can, and gravel / lawn space.
Business risks
Staff recommend the following prior to implementation of pop up off leash dog parks:
- Community Engagement and completion of the Parks and Trails Master Plan
- Staff reporting to Council regarding impacts to other projects and levels of service
- An increase in Parks Staff personnel due to the elevated level of service and projected increases in parks spaces as identified in the Financial Plan.
Proposed sources of funding
Capital: Community Amenity Contributions (in the amount as suggested by Council) 2-1-00390-149
Operational: 1-2-07250-580, cc730-05, Taxation 1-1-00100-100
Costs and benefits
| Costs | FY1 | FY2 | FY3 | FY4 | FY5 | 5-year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,000 | 0 | 20,000 |
| Operational | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45,000 | 0 | 45,000 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65,000 | 0 | 65,000 |
| Benefits | |
|---|---|
| Tangible | Seeks dog park opportunities in the Burnside and Hospital neighbourhoods |
| Intangible |
Recommendation
This project was requested by a member of Council (2024)
Level of Service (identified through high level engagement with other Local Govt’s with similar parks):
- Garbage pickup, landfill fees and doggy bag refills: 1-3 times a week (per LOS of current parks) – STAFF & CONTRACT*
- Park inspections (temporary fencing, gates): weekly – STAFF & CONTRACT*
- Grounds maintenance: lawn mowing or gravel grading, removal of spear grass: weekly in the busy season – CONTRACT*
- End of season maintenance: commissioning and decommissioning the amenity each year – CONTRACT*
- Community feedback: some dog owners love the amenity (especially puppy owners) and others equally dislike it. The amenity’s effectiveness is dependent on whether the dog is suited to pack play and how well trained they are in recall.
* Staff recommend increasing parks staffing levels instead of contracting the work out. Doing so provides better value for dollars spent given the need to support additional parks in the future. Assumption of Contract work is to provide Council with anticipated baseline costs to maintain the amenity.
Preliminary SWOT Analysis of each proposed space (community engagement recommended to finalize analysis):
| Location | Strengths | Weaknesses | Opportunities | Threats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 Atkins (1200m² gravel space) | Space will no longer be a parking lot and instead an amenity space | Council declined off leash space at nearby Chilco Park due to community engagement findings. Competing priorities exist within this space (playground, parking) | The space is not adjacent to neighbouring residential properties | Additional capital and operational costs required to address safety issues of being near a Major Roadway. Softer gravels required. |
| Watkiss at Game Rd (500m² lawn + gravel space) | Located in an otherwise underutilized area of space surrounding Watkiss Way | Community engagement suggested that the neighbourhood could benefit from more ‘quiet parks’. Landscape clearing work required | The space is near highly urbanized areas such as Erskine Lane and Stoneridge | The opportunity requires permission and legal agreements from the private landowner. Fencing may not be allowed within the lands |
| View Royal Park (600m² lawn space) | Located in high traffic areas of View Royal Park. Parking spaces allows for this amenity to be regionally benefitting. Additional garbage cans may not be required. Staff may be able to conduct some works. | Not identified as an opportunity in the View Royal Park Master Plan (2020). Competing priorities with enhancing riparian space (conflicts with proposed wetland areas). Pop up parks are better suited in smaller, urbanized spaces | The space would be located in a park that sees high population of dog walkers. The space could promote a more accessible environment for dogs of all ages and abilities | No community engagement has taken place with the nearby community, increasing the risk of lack of project buy in. |
| Little Road Park (1300m² lawn space) | Located in an underutilized area of future park space | Given the ALR designation, competing priorities are present in the absence of engagement. Dedicated parking required unless agreements made with the adjacent land owner. Access is currently only via north part of the site (Watkiss Trail). Uphill hike required | The space is near highly urbanized areas such as Erskine Lane and Eagle Creek | ALR requirements must be met and permissions from the ALC required. Accessibility must be improved first which would require permission and agreements from adjacent land owners |