Is St. Albert city council barking up the wrong tree?
City council’s decision to put up a chain link fence at Lacombe Park has left many St. Albertans scratching their heads.
The fence will divide the park and remove off-leash access to the lake.
Lacombe Lake Park is one of two designated dog-friendly parks listed on the city of St. Albert’s website, which states that dog-friendly parks are “larger areas designated specifically for dogs and their owners that include signage, amenities and garbage cans.” Lacombe Lake Park is one of the only places for dogs to safely swim in the city, though there appears to be a disconnect between city staff and residents when it comes to the ‘dog beach’ in the park.
Many St. Albertans thought one of the reasons for recent bank stabilization work was to allow dogs to have improved access to the lake. The original concept plans for the $2-million stabilization project did include dog access, though that’s no longer listed in the description on the city’s website. Recreation director Diane Enger said that her department wasn’t aware that the intent of the lake was to be a dog beach.
Count Mayor Nolan Crouse among those who thought that a dog beach was included in the plans.
“It’s pretty substantial in terms of the amount of work that went into that dog beach,” he said. “Are we saying now that dog beach is off limits?”
Requiring dogs to be on a leash greatly diminishes the value of the beach to dog owners; most dog owners don’t feel comfortable letting their dog into water when they are restrained because they could easily get tangled and the situation could become dangerous for the dog. To add further insult, owners will have their dog-licence surcharge put toward the cost of the new chain link fence – for a cost $65,000. Dog owners will effectively be paying to cut their off-leash access to the park in half, and take away one of the only places for dogs to swim in the city.
A chain link fence is also an unsightly option in what is otherwise an attractive public space. Safety was one of the main reasons cited for the fence as well as conflicts between dog-owners and non dog-owners. Council dismissed the suggestion of creating a barrier with hedges, citing that it would be insufficient for safety. But the chain-link fence is only four-feet tall, far below the maximum of what many athletic dogs are able to jump.
While there are several off-leash areas in the city, there are only two dog-friendly parks and few places where dogs can swim. It’s prudent for the city to try and balance the needs of dog owners and other users of the park, but the city already has a plethora of parks for those who are uncomfortable with off-leash dogs. There aren’t nearly as many options for those who wish to let their dogs exercise and socialize free from restraint. And now council has acted to make the most popular dog park in the city far less appealing. The city should rethink this decision and find a solution that allows dogs off-leash access to the lake.
