Council approves Parks & Trails Master Plan

October 13, 2020 - Council approved the Parks & Trails Master Plan which identified Pond's Park Corridor and suggests a $50,000 budget towards the project (p. 73).

Considerable discussion on a fenced-dog park in Sooke is captured throughout the plan, including:

• Key Challenge: “Not enough dog off-leash areas” (p. 5)
• Focus Investment: “Dog-off leash areas” (p. 5)
• “Dog ownership is popular in Sooke. Sixty-two percent of survey respondents own dogs, which yielded significant input related to dogs in parks and trails. This is consistent with a CRD study that estimated around 36% of households own dogs, with an average of 1.3 dogs in each of these households. There are an estimated 2,500 dogs in Sooke.” (p. 10 – see figure 1)
• “The District is also lacking some amenities typical in most communities, such as dog off-leash areas” (p. 12)
• “The management of dogs is a particular challenge due to the lack of an on-leash bylaw and dog off-leash areas.” (p. 12)
• Shaping the future/ Key Trends: “Dog ownership is high in Sooke, and urban areas are being planned to recognize the social and physical benefits to people that come from embracing responsible uses by humans and their dogs. Communities are planning destination and neighbourhood-level dog off-leash areas and designating trails and water access points that welcome dogs.” (p. 14)
• Key direction: “Focus on providing more dog-off leash areas” (p. 45)
• “Sooke has estimated that residents own around 2,500 dogs. The District does not have an on-leash bylaw; however, dogs are required to be under ‘effective control’, which is a confusing and unenforceable requirement. There are no designated dog off-leash areas. Neighbouring communities require dogs to be on leash in most parks or have seasonal on-leash requirements. The CRD performs dog/animal enforcement in Sooke.” (p. 52)
• “Trends in dog management in communities recognize the social and physical benefits to people that come from embracing responsible uses by humans and their dogs. Communities are planning destination and neighbourhood-level dog off-leash areas and designating trails and water access points that welcome dogs.” (p. 52)
• Residents provided many pages of comments regarding dogs, the key input being the following:
  • There should be an on-leash bylaw to prevent dog issues throughout the District
  • There should be designated dog off-leash areas
  • Dog management is needed on Whiffin Spit in particular, as dogs are generally off-leash and they disturb birds
  • Need more bylaw control of dogs and consideration of dog waste management within solid waste management planning
  • Need designated off-leash and on-leash trails (p. 52)