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Off-Leash Dog Parks

OFF-LEASH PARK COMES DOWN FOR KINGSTON FALL FAIR

The off-leash dog park at the Memorial Centre will be taken down on Monday, Sept.12, to accommodate the Kingston Fall Fair. The 181st Annual Kingston Fall Fair runs from Thursday, Sept. 15, to Sunday, Sept. 18.

The off-leash dog park fencing will be back in place on Monday, Sept. 19.


An Off-Leash Dog Areas Policy [PDF: 244KB] has been developed with public input from focus groups and with information from policies established in other municipalities. The Off-Leash Areas Policy and four permanent off-leash sites were approved by Council on July 15, 2009. The Policy also addresses amenities to be included in off-leash dog areas.

The four permanent sites for off-leash dog areas are:

  1. West: Rotary Park
  2. East: MacLean Trail Park
  3. West/North: Meadowbrook Park
  4. Centre/South: Memorial Centre

The pilot off-leash park at Grass Creek Park remains in operation.
[Maps: LOCATE PARK  |  SEE OFF-LEASH AREA]

Maps of each location are available below and provide an overview of the fenced in off-leash area.

PERMANENT OFF-LEASH DOG PARKS

West: Rotary Park

Maps: OFF-LEASH AREA || KMAPS: LOCATE

East: MacLean Trail Park

Maps: OFF-LEASH AREA || KMAPS: LOCATE

West/North: Meadowbrook Park

Maps: OFF-LEASH AREA || KMAPS: LOCATE

Centre/South: Memorial Centre
(Fully Accessible)

Maps: OFF-LEASH AREA || KMAPS: LOCATE

WHY THESE LOCATIONS?

Staff completed a review of City parks and City properties a minimum of 3.5 acres in size. Considering that the minimum size of an off-leash dog area is 1.5 acres and that the general public should be able to use parks, staff did not think that it would be appropriate to recommend parks that could have a use limited to off-leash dog areas. Staff applied the following criteria:

  1. Sites shall be between one and half (1.5) and five (5) acres;
  2. Sites can be located in neighbourhood and community parks as well as other vacant City properties or properties owned by other parties with agreement with the City;
  3. Pilot off-leash dog areas will not be grandfathered through this policy. Each site will be reviewed based on policy criteria;
  4. All play areas, environmentally sensitive areas, designated beaches, regional/tourist parks, campgrounds and properties next to schools, nursing homes and highly residential areas will not be considered for an off-leash dog area.

Staff have also taken into consideration a city-wide distribution of off-leash dog areas. Off-leash dog areas are not being recommended in the rural area due to the property areas usually being sufficient for dogs to exercise, except for Grass Creek Park which remains under consideration by staff as a potential permanent off-leash dog area.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

  • For maintenance issues associated with the operation of the off leash areas, please call customer services at 613-546-0000 or Contact Us online.
  • For requests/issues that need to be brought to the attention of the Off Leash Dog Park Public Liaison Committee, which meets quarterly, please call Kris Hebert at 613-546-4291 ext 1256 or email at khebert@cityofkingston.ca.

Operational off-leash areas are the only places in the City (besides private property) where dogs are now legally permitted to run free as long as their owners observe the posted rules and regulations.

For the safety and security of residents, dog owners are otherwise required to have their dogs on a leash. Residents wishing to report a dog running at large can call Animal Control Bylaw Enforcement at 613-546-4291, ext. 3117 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

 

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This page last modified: January 30, 2012, at 10:08 a.m.