The City of Lacombe, with a population of 12,728 residents, recognizes that dog owners require a safe and secure area within the community where they can take their pets for exercise and socialization.
The municipality also realizes that all park and trail users have the right to feel safe while enjoying their respective activities.
As such, the City is working together with its consultants Lombard Group Ltd. on a Municipal Green Spaces Review, a portion of which is dedicated to identifying and developing a permanent off-leash dog park in Lacombe.
The City had hoped to at least provide dog owners with a temporary off-leash area this fall at the previous location in Michener Park and still consult with the public on a recommended permanent site.
Unfortunately the under-construction hotel is using the former dog park land to house building equipment so they cannot provide a site this year.
The City and its consultants reviewed several locations for use as a permanent off-leash area including; Woodland Park (west of 58th St.), the Elizabeth Lake Drive Right of Way, the Wolf Creek Storm Water Pond area (south of the lagoons), an area along Len Thompson adjacent to Wolf Creek, the Essex Park beside the new Sheppard Height Subdivision and a strip of green space on the west side of Michener Park.
Unfortunately, these properties were excluded from further consideration based on the following assumptions; City-owned land, permanency of location, land condition and topography, creating a larger space suited for off-leash use and least disruptive to existing infrastructure and residents.
However there is one parcel of land that has been identifi ed for serious consideration as a permanent off-leash dog park – an area directly adjacent to the future Public Works facility in the Len Thompson Industrial Park Phase II.
This area can be accessed from Len Thompson Dr. via Wolf Creek Dr.
The proposed permanent off-leash area would be developed using the Municipal Reserve (MR), the Public Utility Lot (PUL) and the storm pond area.
Citizens may note that this site has a lot of advantages. The land area is larger for the proposed dog park, a body of water is included on site and is something prospective users have asked for.
A light-duty parking lot can be developed on the MR to facilitate 24-hour access to the site along with pathways, signage, water spigots, waste receptacles, agility training areas, berms and other social amenities.
The City of Lacombe needs residents to provide their comments on the proposed location in the Len Thompson Industrial Park Phase II for a permanent off-leash dog park.
If the feedback is positive and there is suffi cient support for this project, City administration will then present the off-leash dog park proposal to council.
Once approved, the site will be fenced for use as soon as possible. The public will be further engaged to provide input into the detail design and amenities of this site for construction in 2015.
Feedback comments will be accepted until midnight on Dec. 2nd. For more information, visit www.lacombe.ca.
- Vossen