Canine enthusiasts are looking to get both dog owners and non-owners on board with how Cochranites want to see their shared green spaces take shape.
Members of the Cochrane Off-Leash Advocacy Group (OLAG) met last week to begin shaping its planned advocacy for safe and enjoyable multi-user spaces throughout the town, including holding town officials accountable for meeting the needs of the 4,300-plus licensed dog owners in Cochrane.
“I’m very positive about them working with us,” said OLAG member Jacki-Lyn Parker, referring to the communication between OLAG and the town’s parks staff.
The group is encouraging members of the community to come out to a meeting and speak up about how the group can best liaise with the town regarding dog parks and multi-user spaces, promote healthy dog ownership and stewardship and ensure that adequate spaces for canines are included and considered in a timely fashion throughout the community.
The grassroots group formed this past spring following the contentious configuration of the soon-to-be-built dog park in the west end of town.
Following the scrapping of the original proposal to construct the park north of Quigley Drive and alongside Highway 22 due to backlash from some West Valley residents who would back onto the park, council settled on a new design for a smaller park between Quigley Drive and WestRock Road and the addition of a second area south of WestRock – which would be geared toward smaller dogs.
According to Brad Luft, manager of open spaces and parks for the town, construction on the new dog park is anticipated to begin “in the next couple of weeks … as the contractor is now working out the details to obtain crossing agreements with the four pipeline companies that have lines in the area.”
While future pipeline upgrades are in discussions, Luft said, “Any impact on the park (due to construction) would be minimal.”
He added that both areas will include fencing to match the current post and rail design, staging areas for leashing and unleashing dogs, north pathway upgrades to asphalt, a crushed stone pathway in the south section and the addition of such amenities as benches, garbage cans and tree planting.
The total budget for the dog park is $330,000.
The next OLAG meeting will be Aug. 15 from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on the second floor of Cochrane Toyota. Get in touch at [email protected].
