Cochrane town council has approved opening a shared-space off-leash pilot area in Sunset Ridge.
At the council meeting on Oct. 13, 2015, Coun. Jeff Toews made a motion to direct administration to develop a report on implementing a Shared-Space Off-Leash Pilot Project to run from April-October, 2016. The report includes current areas being used as unofficial shared-space off-leash areas in town and new areas within Cochrane that can be utilized as permanent off-leash areas and dog parks.
According to the Open Space Master Plan as well as Neighbourhood Plans, an off-leash shared-space area is shared by multiple users (runners, cyclists, dog walkers, etc.) while a dog park is a fenced area strictly for dog use.
“We currently don’t have a dog park in Cochrane, what we have are two off-leash areas – one along the river, and one in Riverfront Park,” said Suzanne Gaida, the town’s senior manager for community services, during her presentation to council.
Gaida stated the Open Space Master Plans and the Neighbourhood Plans identify placing off-leash areas or dog parks in all quadrants of the community.
“What we heard from the community was they really like the regional (shared-space off-leash) one but they’d really like to have one in their own community.”
Through the Shared-Space Off-Leash Pilot Project, administration formed criteria to use when evaluating areas for potential shared-space off-leash areas. This included: distance from schoolyards, distance from playgrounds, accessibility, and more.
Administration also took into account dates and times for pilots to be launched.
Using the criteria, eight sites were identified located in Riversong, Bow Meadows, Bow Ridge, West Terrace, Heritage Hills, Sunset Ridge, Glenbow, and Gleneagles. Administration also considered a range of times for the areas from: 7-9 a.m. and 7-9 p.m., 7-9 a.m. only, and 9 p.m.-9 a.m. To date, the administration has not requested public engagement.
“No matter what we do, we’re going to get complaints,” said Coun. Jeff Toews.
“I like the 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. time period – I think that’s a really good time because all the kids should be in bed and pathways are a lot quieter.”
If approved, the pilot area would require $5,000 funding from the Animal Licensing Reserve for the project, which will cover the installation of two garbage cans, doggie bag dispensers and signage in the area. It will also cover communication and advertising about the pilot area.
The operational cost for this pilot area has yet to be determined.
Toews made a motion to direct administration to conduct a shared-space off-leash pilot program in the identified area of Sunset Ridge. The motion was carried unanimously.
“We talk a lot about the traffic in town and walkability, and having something for everyone in all of the communities – I think this is a good opportunity just to try something new,” Toews explained.
“We’ll find out in October if its successful and something we can continue with or if it’s something that isn’t going to work.”
The pilot will run in the area around the lower storm pond on the south end of Sunset Ridge, across from St. Timothy’s School from May 1 - Sept. 1 from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.
