The letter to the editor by Barrie Burton in the Saturday, June 18 paper is a perfect example of the misunderstanding many residents have about Lacombe Lake Park.
Let me be perfectly clear: Lacombe Lake Park is not a dog park. Sure you are allowed to take your dog off leash in the field areas of the park, but that applies to every park in St. Albert, including Lacombe Park, Liberton Park, Seven Hills and Lions Park.
According to St. Albert's animal bylaw, specifically section 14.3, dogs are allowed off leash except at and within one metre from trails, playgrounds, tot lots and sports fields. That effectively makes all other green spaces in St. Albert off-leash areas. Notwithstanding this, Lacombe Lake Park has, through lack of enforcement, become known as St. Albert's off-leash park and dog owners have come to interpret that to mean they can keep their dogs off leash throughout the entire park, trails included.
I have lived within blocks of Lacombe Lake Park for my whole life (30 years) and have noticed the character of the park change particularly in the past 10 years or so and I would say it is not for the better. As a dog owner myself and a father of a three- and four-year-old, I enjoy walks around the lake but it is no longer the same peaceful or tranquil place it used to be. Gone are the days where you can throw the Frisbee or football around by the lake or fish with your kids without being bothered by curious dogs. As petty as it sounds, it is a frustrating experience to be following the on-leash rules only to have off-leash dogs either pester ours or lick my kids faces while they're riding in their wagon.
I love that I can let my dog off leash in any St. Albert green space, but also strongly believe that if we are going to designate an official ‘dog park’ it needs to be separated by a fence and the rules clearly defined and enforced so that everyone can enjoy Lacombe Lake Park. I also appreciate the mayor's desire to use natural hedges or an alternative to unsightly chain link fences, but am skeptical of the effectiveness of such a plan. Perhaps hedges could be planted along a short fence to enhance the look of the park while maintaining clearly defined boundaries of the off-leash area.
Neil Korotash, St. Albert
