A dog enjoying a sunny day in the park.
Image Credit: City of Penticton
February 15, 2024 - 4:07 PM
Dog owners in Penticton will be able to test out new "leash optional" areas.
The city has launched a six-month pilot program allowing dogs to be off-leash in five new locations.
The trial is running from March 1 to Aug. 31 and the city is asking for community feedback on how the project is going in each location, according to a City of Penticton press release.
“Look for the designated zones, which will be well-marked with signage and delineators, and please be mindful that these are shared spaces within a public park or green space,” Parks Planning and Capital Project coordinator Ysabel Contreras said in the release.
The five parks with off-leash optional areas are: Riverside Park, Okanagan Lake Park, two locations at Skaha Park and 1900 Penticton Avenue at the entrance of the water treatment plant.
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There are several rules regarding these new areas.
All dogs must be monitored and under verbal control at all times, any dogs exhibiting aggressive behaviour must be removed immediately, dogs in heat are not permitted, each dog must have a current licence, owners must clean up after their dogs and dogs must be properly leashed when outside of the pilot project zone.
“We ask that only well-behaved dogs visit these leash-optional areas and it’s important to note that they are not fenced in, so your dog must be trained to come when called,” Contreras said.
The city said it’s going to keep a close eye on the project and could make changes to the availability of the off-leash areas at any time based on the community’s feedback.
This pilot project is part of the city’s efforts to expand and improve dog parks.
In October, the city announced it is investing $200,000 in improving the city’s six off-leash parks.
The city is going to announce details about how the public can provide feedback in the coming weeks.
Maps and more information about the off leash pilot project locations will be posted here on March 1.
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