Harmony Valley Conservation Area
Harmony Valley Conservation Area located in Oshawa’s south end has been identified as a potential location for a new off-leash dog park by city staff. In Oshawa, Ont, Canada, there is only one off-leash dog park, and that is located in Harmony Valley Conservation Area, which is east of Grandview Avenue and Taunton Avenue.
Oshawa’s council received a request for the creation of a second dog park last year. During the last week of July, staff reviewed possible sites and informed Oshawa’s community services committee.
An area of approximately 0.72 hectares near Malaga Road and Glen Street has been identified by the city as the best potential site in the south end. This project is located south of Highway 401 and is a part of the green space along Oshawa Creek that runs through the city.
In addition to Stone Street Park and Lakewoods Park, smaller sites with fewer buffers between the park and nearby homes were considered.
Next, a public consultation and staff estimation will take place, and if successful, a new off-leash park could be included in the 2019 budget.
The city’s director of community services Bob Chapman pointed out that although dog parks are popular, they are also contentious to some people like neighbours. “The city has a lot of people living across from Cordova,” he said. In addition to increasing traffic, it will also increase parking, like the one north of Oshawa did, but not only for people from Oshawa. “There is no gate that says you can’t bring your dog here if you’re not from Oshawa.”
Chapman believes the consultation can’t take place before the council begins considering the 2018 budget at the start of the new year. In his opinion, public consultations are not a good idea heading into the holidays.
“We need to consult with neighbours to make sure we are comfortable with this dog park. “What we did with the north one is the same as what we did here,” said Chapman. Fortunately, Cordova has a lot of space and it’s a nice area to walk around if they set it up properly.”
There are a set of guidelines for off-leash dog parks in Oshawa that take into account things like the size of the park, fences and gates, parking, maintenance, and the protection of natural areas.
The Harmony Valley Conservation Area is popular with residents and attracts hundreds of visitors every day.
“It’s for that reason we need another one, but of course we want to make sure the next one we make is properly assembled so people will accept it,” said Chapman.
As part of the 2017 budget, the Council approved an expansion to the off-leash area worth $70,000. Oshawa Durham Area Walkers Group (ODAWG), asked the council to build an access path on the north side of the park.
“We’re pretty lucky in north Oshawa, we have this group called ODAWG. Dog waste bags are raised through fundraising and self-policing. A partnership would be nice to help us police the area down there as well,” said Chapman of a potential south Oshawa location.
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