Over the last week, Coquitlam councillors and staff have been inundated with angry emails and phone calls from residents demanding the city keep its daily dawn-to-10 a.m. off-leash dog time at Mundy Park.
There’s just one problem: The city isn’t making any changes to the Mundy off-leash times and, according to Mayor Richard Stewart, it is actually expanding off-leash opportunities at the park.
He believes the confusion stems from council’s decision to spend $42,000 for a new designated off-leash trail. Stewart said some residents are under the impression the new loop will come at the expense of the dawn-to-10 a.m. off-leash times — which is not the case.
“Our goal was not only to continue the hugely popular mornings but, also, to find a solution for those who wanted to walk their dogs during afternoons or evenings so that we could also have trails for non-dog-walkers later in the day,” Stewart said in an email to The Tri-City News. “We think we found the perfect balance, though I know that there are many who will become very interested if anyone talks about dogs off-leash at Mundy.”
The new off-leash loop will provide a 20- to 30-minute walk in the southeast corner of the park near the current fenced off-leash area near Mariner, according to a staff report.
Last week, council approved a report that will see $175,000 spent on trail upgrades in the park. The dog off-leash loop is expected to cost $42,000 while another $40,000 will be spent on overall trail system improvements, way-finding and signage. Coquitlam will also be adding a no-dog trail loop, at a cost of $93,000, which will be located on the paths going to Mundy Lake, with an additional loop south of the Owl Trail.
According to the staff report, the latter loop was chosen for residents who “seek a dog-free environment.”
The report added that dogs are not currently permitted in the area, which is more environmentally sensitive than other sections of the park.
SETTING IT STRAIGHT
Re. “Mundy Park will get off-leash trail loop” (The Tri-City News, June 24).
In the referenced story, it was reported the new off-leash dog trail at Mundy Park would cost $175,000. In fact, that total will cover the cost of the off-leash trail loop ($42,000) as well other trail system improvements, way-finding and signage ($40,000) and a no-dog trail loop ($93,000).
