Two northwest rinks may become seasonal off-leash dog parks

Pups — not pucks — soon could be fixtures at a pair of outdoor hockey rinks in Regina.

On Thursday, the Community and Protective Services Committee is to discuss a recommendation to add the rinks near the Joanne Goulet Golf Course and the North West Leisure Centre to the list of seasonal off-leash dog parks.

The city currently uses five of its outdoor rinks as seasonal off-leash areas between May 1 and Sept. 30. Those rinks are in M.J. Coldwell Park in the north, Glencairn Park in the east, Leslie Park in the centre of the city, Mike Badham Park in the south end and Rosemont School Park in the west.

Regina Mayor Michael Fougere said earlier this week on the Greg Morgan Morning Show that the potential of adding two more outdoor rinks to that list represents “good news” for the city, but Regina resident Lynda Schofield isn’t so sure.

“Seasonal off-leash areas can be useful for small dogs (and) for times when people who are in that area need a quick run,” Schofield said during a recent visit to the Cathy Lauritsen Memorial off-leash dog park. “But they’re not really a solution for the dog-walking and dog-exercising community who need areas that are bigger, that are fenced and that are accessible to the middle areas of the city.”

Camden Wade regularly takes his four dogs to the permanent dog park near the Regina International Airport. But he lives in the area of Rochdale Boulevard in the city’s northwest, meaning he’s closer to both of the outdoor rinks that could be added to the roster.

“It’s probably still a little bit too far to walk for us, but it’d be a two-minute drive rather than a 10- to 15-minute drive (to the Cathy Lauritsen park),” Wade said. “I think it’s great.”

But Schofield doesn’t believe the addition of outdoor rinks to the list of off-leash dog parks in the city will do enough for dog enthusiasts.

She noted that the city has received feedback from members of the public about using part of the Regent Park Par-3 Golf Course as an off-leash dog park – and she would like to see that done.

In her mind, adding seasonal parks is only a temporary solution.

“I think the city feels that it’s permanent, that if they keep designating areas like that, then they don’t have to follow through with other things,” Schofield said. “The reality is that a large number of people who don’t drive and aren’t within walking distance of this park or (the one on) Ross (Avenue) don’t have access (to off-leash dog parks).”

The report being considered by the city noted that residents of the city want more off-leash parks, so other locations are being examined for future development. In the meantime, the outdoor rinks will revert to hockey after Sept. 30, once again reducing the number of off-leash facilities for dogs.

The situation with dog parks in the city doesn’t sit well with Schofield.

“Even though it’s exercise and it’s healthy for both the people and the dogs, I don’t think it’s given a priority,” she said. “I think everything else gets put ahead of it in use of space.”

— With files from 980 CJME’s Jessie Anton