(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

City of Melfort

Council approves establishment of off-leash dog park

Sep 20, 2022 | 5:01 PM

The City of Melfort has approved the establishment of an off-leash dog park, to be constructed at Spruce Haven Park.

City council voted on the matter, following the presentation of the proposed park’s survey results.

The public engagement survey was released to the public back on July 14 and closed on August 12.

It presented various multiple choice and poll-based questions, including location, necessities and use, etc., by dog owners and non-owners.

This aided the project committee in narrowing down their options and providing a complete vision for the community.

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Kalyna Livingstone, project manager told northeastNOW how the involvement of the citizens of Melfort has a huge impact.

“It’s always encouraging when you find that you have community support for the initiative that you’re doing, it makes it easier to be motivated and present and provide your reasonings. Our original goal was to get 100 responses, we thought that would be that was one of our key performance indicators and now to get 385, is fantastic.”

In a statement by the city, it read: off-leash dog parks provide an area where owners and their dogs can spend time together, and where dogs can run, play and socialize with other dogs in a safe environment.

Dog parks have been increasing in popularity in recent years and a number of Saskatchewan municipalities have developed a dog park for residents and members of the public.

Interest in a dog park for Melfort has been considered and expressed for a number of years.

The construction of the facility is set to feature multiple stages.

Livingstone explained, weather dependant, the city hopes to have all fencing and signage completed before snowfall.

“The City of Melfort does not have a designated space for off-leash dogs and I think it was a need that was identified in the community and something that we’ve been hearing for a long time. Our goal is to deliver this and deliver what the community has asked for.”

$40,000 was earmarked in the 2022 budget for the development of an off-leash dog park.

Cost estimates for the proposed dog park are as follows: fencing and gates $28,000 – $32,000, water line, dog water station and drainage sump $5,000 – $7,000, accessible concrete sidewalk and pavilion base $10,000 – $12,000, metal pavilion and picnic tables $15,000 – $17,000, and signage $2,000.

The total of all that currently sits at $60,000 – $70,000. The city has identified the $20,000 – $30,000 shortfall and is prepared for the second phase to begin next spring.

The second phase of park development will include the installation of concrete work, pavilion, picnic tables and dog water stations, as funding is identified or sponsorship is secured.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8