OSHAWA -- To the relief of dozens of residents, Oshawa council has said no to allowing off-leash dogs at Kedron Park.
There was thunderous applause from the public gallery on Feb. 1, after council swiftly voted down the idea. Last spring, neighbourhood dog owner John Sproule proposed the idea, saying people were already allowing their dogs to run free in the north Oshawa park, and that designating certain areas, or certain hours of the day, for off-leash use would control the problem.
While he had some support, the opposition was significantly louder.
At council's community services committee meeting on Jan. 19, politicians received a 169-signature petition opposing the idea and many individual letters in opposition. Several people also made delegations, expressing concern about how off-leash dogs would clash with the sports fields and playground already at the park, and pose a danger to neighbourhood kids.
At the Feb. 1 council meeting, another 43 pieces of correspondence opposing the idea were received.
While councillors have acknowledged the need for a second off-leash dog park to complement the one that opened at Harmony Valley Park in 2007, they said Kedron isn't a good fit.
Recommend :