Outcry from Heritage Park residents buries off-leash dog park

Tara Jeffrey Sarnia barked up the wrong tree when it tried to put an off-leash dog zone in Heritage Park. City council did a quick turnabout last week after being deluged with opposition from residents of the subdivision in southeast Sarnia.

Tara Jeffrey

Sarnia barked up the wrong tree when it tried to put an off-leash dog zone in Heritage Park.

City council did a quick turnabout last week after being deluged with opposition from residents of the subdivision in southeast Sarnia.

“When this dog park came up I cringed,” Laurie Loxton said in one of many notes to City Hall.

“Most of the neighbours in that area had no idea that this was even being considered until we read (it) in the Journal.”

Heritage Park has almost no parking, residents said, and an influx of dogs and their owners could damage a children’s playground and Veterans Memorial Forest, a war memorial of living maple trees planted in the shape of a cross.

Heritage Park and Tecumseh Park were both selected for a fenced-in and leash-free dog zone following “generally negative” public feedback to a proposed beach for dogs. The online Speak Up Sarnia survey drew 225 users, as well as 68 written submissions.

“We would also appreciate knowing how many of the 225 participants were residents of Heritage Park, as we were not even remotely aware this proposal was being considered,” residents Debra Knudsen and Robert Andrews told City Hall.

Stacey Forfar, Sarnia’s community services manager, said the two sites were chosen for their location and under-used space.

“We thought it would be a nice investment for the neighbourhood … but appreciate that has not gone over well,” she said.

“We’re happy to go back to the drawing board on this one and bring forward a series of alternative locations to consider for council in the future.”

Mayor Mike Bradley said one lesson learned is that Speak Up Sarnia can’t be relied upon entirely for public input on projects.

“It’s a good device to have… but we need to find a better way,” he said. “Most of the emails received said, ‘We knew nothing about this.’”

Sarnia’s first publicly owned off-leash dog zone opened at Germain Park in 2017. Since then, lobby groups have been pushing for more dog-friendly spaces.

“I never received more emails and phone calls than I did on this (dog) park,” said Coun. Dave Boushy.

“Regardless of where you go, the people in the neighbourhood next to the park are going to oppose it … so I think we have to be very careful.”

“Maybe,” he added with a laugh, “we’ll leave it to the next term of council.”

Sarnia had about 4,200 licensed dogs last year and 4,400 licensed dogs in 2020.