FERGUS – Fergus’s large off-leash dog park has become a popular destination with dog owners local and from the surrounding region, but recent moves at an under-development business park may be leading to confusion on how the park will be impacted.
The dog park is a hilly property tucked away in a corner of an industrial area of Fergus largely maintained by volunteers and attracts hundreds of visitors a day both local and from the region, according to volunteers.
“It’s large, it’s unfenced, it has an agility area for dogs to play, it’s a beautiful plot,” said Kelsye Coulter, a dog park volunteer who comes often with her border collie.
What really adds to it is the Reeves property, a piece of privately-owned land adjacent to the park that allows dogs to roam there. It effectively doubles the size of the dog park, said Coulter and others at the dog park EloraFergusToday spoke to.
This area also leads to a small pond visited by dogs which is on township owned land and next to an under-construction multi-use path that is planned to connect with the Elora Cataract Trail as part of the North Fergus Business Park.
The mutli-use path that has been dug out appears to end by the Reeve’s property, making some dog park users worried there might be some unwanted interaction between dogs and trail users.
“The concern that could happen to our off leash dog, you know, may bump into a bicycle or may knock a child over or elderly person … it’s a dog park, the park is designed for dogs,” Coulter said. “Even though this area is not part of the dog park, it is very close to the dog park and dogs are used to going there.”
“I don’t think it’s a good mix, it’s an amazing park the way it is,” regular park goer Dennis Reid added.
Liz Jansen, from the dog park, was concerned the path may eventually be brought down to connect with the parking lot or run parallel to the park which she thought would be a mistake.
Centre Wellington manager of community services Pat Newson believed there was a misunderstanding over what’s happening due to an error during some tree clearing.
Newson confirmed some trees and brush on the Reeves’ property were accidentally removed and without. This section created a clearance between township and the unofficial dog park on Reeves’ land.
When asked for comment over the phone, Newson directed EloraFergusToday to an email sent out to some dog park users who had inquired to her about their concerns.
In regards to the tree clearing mistake she wrote in the email, “had this mishap not happened, it would have been evident that the work ended at the property line of the new business park,” and would not have opened up a buffer between the Reeves property and business park.
On the topic of a potential trail connecting with the dog park or parallel, Newson wrote that is a concept only and would need to be worked out through a “well thought out plan including community engagement.”
The email also stressed there would be no changes to the dog park in the immediate future and work at the business park will not be going past the township owned land.
While some dog park users are worried, adjacent landowner Bob Reeves said in a phone interview he’s not worried and also stressed the property next to his is owned by the township.
He explained people have used his property to walk their dogs since he’s lived there, well before there was an official dog park and people go on his property at their own risk.
He wasn’t convinced there would be a conflict of uses.
“I don’t think people should be concerned, I know there’s a few people that get riled up over every little change but I don’t think any change is going to be bad,” Reeves said.
He said people should “chill out” and appreciate the dog park for what it is.
“Who else has a dog park that doesn’t have a fence around it with a locked gate to get in or out of it?” Reeves said. “It’s a nice place to walk your dog. The more they start complaining, the more the township is going to start putting controls on it.”
Newson said the parks department will be hosting a meeting and is inviting users of the dog park to have a conversation and explain what’s happening. The date and time of this is to be decided.
