Off-Leash Dog Area in vicinity of Governor's Brook Subdivision, Spryfield
The municipality is exploring future possibilities for a dog off-leash area (OLA) in the vicinity of Governor's Brook Subdivision, Spryfield.
We want your feedback about community needs, concerns and location preference.
PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW AND THEN PARTICIPATE IN OUR SHORT SURVEY. THERE IS ALSO A QUESTION & ANSWER (Q&A) PLATFORM.
Approach to Dog Off-leash Areas
In early 2018, Regional Council approved a staff report (see Important Links) which:
- Directed staff to identify potential additional OLAs for the underserved communities of Cole Harbour, Eastern Passage, Spryfield area, and Dartmouth.
- Adopted Administrative Order 2017-013-OP, Respecting Off-leash Dog Areas in Municipal Parks, which provides a framework to guide establishment of new OLA’s.
The purpose of the Administrative Order is to:
- Recognize the health benefits & value of dog walking and exercising.
- Provide adequate, appropriate, and safe off-leash areas.
- Provide a level of service that is economically and environmentally sustainable, and in balance with other HRM objectives and priorities.
There are two types of OLAs:
- Shared OLAs are designated areas in a park where off-leash dogs and other park users share the same space, this includes sports fields.
- Dedicated OLAs are designed for off-leash dogs as the primary use and normally include fencing to contain activity.
Shared OLAs are preferred because they meet the needs of more than one user group (i.e. not only dog owners), they are less expensive and don’t need to be as large (dedicated facilities tend to draw from a wide area operating as regional facilities and therefore need to be of sufficient size).
Potential OLA in Vicinity of Governor's Brook
On Sept. 22, 2020, Regional Council approved the staff report, ‘Potential dog off-leash area in Governor's Brook Subdivision and program update’ (see Important Links).
Based on selection criteria in the Administrative Order, the report provides an assessment of five parks in the immediate vicinity of Governor's Brook Subdivision:
- McIntosh Run Regional Park (Community trail/Multi-use pathway)
- Titanium Crescent Park
- Travertine Court Park
- Alabaster Way Park
- Governors Brook District Park
McIntosh Run Regional Park has potential as a shared OLA in the section with the Community trail (Multi-use pathway) based on the following initial assessment:
- There is adequate separation from residential areas (over 80m).
- There is 1,300m of existing linear crusher dust trail (over 2m wide) with future expansion that is anticipated to the south.
- This facility promotes dog-owner exercise.
Alabaster Way Community Park, Travertine Court Park and Titanium Crescent Park are considered unsuitable because of their proximity to residential areas (less than 20m).
Travertine Court Park and Titanium Crescent Park are also of insufficient size (0.2ha).
For several reasons, Governor's Brook District Park is also unsuitable:
- Many trail sections are too close to residential areas (15m at closest) with little to no acoustic barrier due to the predominant granite barrens landscape.
- There is high likelihood of user conflict as the trail system is designed for single-track use with a focus on mountain biking.
The two recommended site options for dog off-leash use are therefore in McIntosh Run Regional Park along the Community Trail:
- A year-round off-leash area during park hours from 5am-10pm.
- A year-round off-leash area with hours restricted between 5am-10am and 4pm-10pm.
Another park, Roaches Pond Ball Diamond Park, may also be suitable for year-round shared dog off-leash activity as it is no longer a booked ball diamond. While it is not immediately adjacent to the Governor's Brook subdivision, it can be accessed from the subdivision via the McIntosh Run Community Trail.
PLEASE PROCEED TO THE SHORT SURVEY.
You can receive a paper copy of the survey by contacting Penelope Kuhn kuhnp@halifax.ca
