The city is on the hunt for a pet-potty or a place where dogs can do their business in the downtown.
The city’s current off-leash dog area in the 800 block of Carnarvon and Agnes streets is going to be redeveloped so the city is looking to create a “dog relief station” on a trial basis. The area around the existing dog park has the highest density of dogs in all of New Westminster.
“There’s an amazing number of dogs in that area,” said Jay Young, manager of Queen’s Park Arenex.
Council has endorsed a staff recommendation to introduce a dog relief station in the downtown on a trial basis and to explore the concept of developing an off-leash area in Simcoe Park.
The lower portion of the current dog park is privately owned land that’s designated for a high-density mixed-use development, while the Chinese Benevolent Society gifted the upper part of the site to the city. A small park is proposed for that space, but some people have suggested a dog park isn’t the most suitable use for the former Chinese Benevolent Society site.
“We would look to be creating the relief station in conjunction with the redevelopment of the CBA Park,” Young said. “We are just starting this process. There’s a public consultation process that we will have to go through.”
Because of the limited availability of land with grass in this area, staff recommended the city create a small relief area or ‘station’ that will give local dog owners a place where they can take their dogs to relieve themselves so they’re not doing their business on city streets or sidewalks or in gardens or other public spaces.
“We are taking this dog park away and we want to provide a place for them to go,” Young said. “We already have enough of an issue of dogs going on streets, sidewalks, gardens etc.”
Young said he gets lots of calls from residents complaining about downtown and Quayside dog owners not picking up after their dogs.
City staff has proposed three potential locations for a pet relief station in downtown New Westminster: a site at the south corner of the Chinese Benevolent Association lands on Victoria Street (a space that would be physically separated from the future park); the lane located between the two sites that comprise the existing off-leash park; or in a parklet to be created on the street where parking spaces currently exist (like the parklet that opened earlier this year on East Columbia Street in Sapperton.)
In addition to a relief station, staff believes the creation of a new off-leash dog enclosure up the hill at Simcoe Park will provide a place that dog owners can walk to and dogs can exercise and socialize.
Council has directed staff to consult with local residents, business owns and the parks and recreation committee about the proposals, as well as the idea of requiring future high-density development projects to include on-site dog relief stations.
“The thought would be as future buildings go up, they would be creating some kind of relief station,” Young explained. “I’ve seen them in parking lots, I’ve seen them on roofs. In New York they are right down by the sidewalks. What they look like, where they are will likely vary, but as we continue to densify we need to be thinking about this and be proactive on this before it becomes a real big issue.”
