New, permanent off-leash dog park proposed for Old Strathcona

Edmonton city Coun. Michael Janz says a permanent dog park could soon be coming to End of Steel Park.

Dog-walkers in Old Strathcona could soon have another place in the neighbourhood to take their pooches off-leash.

Coun. Michael Janz asked city administration on Monday at the end of city council’s public hearing to look into the costs for a permanent dog park in the south-side neighbourhood.

The Ward papastew representative claims the need for such a park comes considering Old Strathcona is home to a considerable number of multi-unit dwellings -- and canines.

“It’s packed with high rises, it’s packed with apartment buildings (and) it’s packed with dogs,” Janz told CTV News Edmonton.

He said the Strathcona Community League is offering up a piece of land next to End of Steel Park, next to Gateway Boulevard south of Saskatchewan Drive, for the dog park.

He’s asked city staff what it would cost to put up some fencing and added garbage pick-ups because he believes another off-leash park in the area would be welcome.

“We’re getting more and more off-leash complaints, conflicts with the river valley, with coyotes, with Mill Creek Ravine, and by having an off-leash dog park right there, close to Whyte Avenue, close to the community league (building), in one of the densest neighbourhoods in our city, this allows another amenity to help build community (and) bring neighbours together,” Janz said.

There are two other fenced off-leash dog parks in the area, one operated by the city and another on private land.

City council will debate establishing the new, proposed park during budget talks this fall.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson