Dog owners in downtown Port Coquitlam will not have to travel far to let their four-legged friends enjoy a bit of time off leash.
A new fenced space is being set up on a a third of an acre located in a utility right-of-way off Maple Street at Bury Avenue. The land will provide dog owners living the area an alternative to running their dogs on the trails or at Gates Park, where off-leash dogs are not permitted.
The area will be surfaced with wood chips and will feature a small seating area, with trees and shrubs creaking a natural buffer from nearby homes. It will be accessed from both the Traboulay PoCo Trail and Maple Street.
Off-leash dogs at Gates Park have been a source of constant complaints from park users and the city hopes the new facility will alleviate the issue.
The city's Animal Control Bylaw requires all dogs to be leashed in all public spaces other than designated off-leash areas.
It's estimated there are 9,000 dogs in PoCo and off-leash areas were identified as a significant need when the city developed its Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan in 2007.
In 2010, the city opened its first off-leash dog park in the 3300-block of Shaughnessy Street. Sites in Citadel Heights and in northeast PoCo are also being considered as money becomes available over the next few years.
For more information about the city's services for dogs, go to www.portcoquitlam.ca/dogs.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
