Whyte Ridge Community Centre opens new off-leash dog park

Residents enjoy the newly opened off-leash dog park with their dog. (Daniel Timmerman/CTV News)

Humans in Whyte Ridge are welcoming some of the city’s goodest boys and girls to a new off-leash dog park.

On Saturday, Whyte Ridge Community Centre officially opened its off-leash dog area, inviting furry friends and their owners to explore the new space.

The year-round park, located at 145 Cloverwood Rd., replaces a seasonal pen previously operated by the community centre.

“It’s more than a dog park. It’s great for the dogs, but it’s also great to build community,” Coun. Janice Lukes told CTV News.“The neighbours come out, they meet each other, the dogs meet each other.”

Whyte Ridge Community Centre president Kirill Piragalin said the project is a direct response to years of community feedback.

“This is a response to years of community requests for a safe, dedicated space for our four-legged family members,” he said in a news release. “It’s an excellent example of how our partnerships with government enable our board to deliver vital services to our community.”

The fully fenced, grass-covered area spans approximately 0.25 hectares. It includes seating areas, sealed pet waste containers and two gated entrances.

The dog park is the first project to be completed under the Off-Leash Dog Area Implementation Procedure, part of the city’s Off-Leash Dog Area Master Plan introduced in May 2018.