Fenced Dog Park at Ponds Corridor: Community Consultation

Sooke is working to enhance community identity, vitality, and safety – and a fenced dog park offers one mechanism to do so. Highly requested by residents as a desirable community amenity, dog parks offer many benefits; they provide:

• a centralized location for like-minded residents to connect, share and join together. Dog parks create a sense of community and forge friendships among users.
• an increase in livability in the town core where lots are smaller than in the rural areas of Sooke.
• a safe space for residents with mobility concerns to allow their dogs to run.

Additional benefits include:

• supporting pet’s health - getting the proper amount of exercise is vital for their wellness. For people with more active breeds, taking them on walks may not be enough to release their energy. Fenced dog parks give pets the opportunity to run faster and play hard with other pets in the park.
• well-exercised dogs are tired dogs, and tired dogs are more likely to be good (and quiet) neighbours.
• several studies have shown dog parks discourage crime, loitering and raise property values.

Further benefits and interest expressed for this amenity is highlighted throughout the Parks and Trails Master Plan. The dog park will be a 20 metre x 50 metre fenced space, located in Ponds Corridor. Phase one of the park development will include 1.8 metre chain link fence, swing gates, bear resistant waste station and parking.