Mark Squibb / June 29, 2023
After voting last July to move the dog park, members of Witless Bay council last week voted to prepare a tender to construct a fence at the soon-to-be new facility.
“We made a motion, last year I believe it was, to relocate our dog park and right now where we’re planning is close to Southside Track right by the changerooms, so it will be really handy for everybody,” said councillor Ralph Carey, who made the motion to prepare a tender.
Carey went on to explain the Town is looking to install about 130 feet of chain link fence from the existing chain link fence off the Puffin Centre parking lot to the corner of the change rooms.
The run of fencing, complimenting preexisting fencing, will box off an area to be designated as the dog park, which Carey said would be the most cost-effective way to go about the work.
Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard seconded the motion.
“Like councillor Carey said, we made a motion to do this last year so I’m really happy to see it move ahead,” said Yard. “We have had a lot of feedback from residents about the lack of an accessible dog park facility. I have looked into (it), not that we want to have a luxurious dog park, but I have looked into some designs that other jurisdictions have had, so that rather than just have a flat piece of land, we have some things there. It would be really great if we could get some kind of water source for the dogs. But, in the meantime, I am looking into some different things we could have in the dog park. Like, I’m trying to get some prices on doggie bags for picking up waste, so when I get that together, I will bring that to council for further consideration.”
The former dog park was located in the same general area but could only be accessed by trespassing over private property.
The park remained closed while council sought a solution.
