Potential dog park sites eyed

The off-leash dog park advisory committee has begun its review of potential sites for a possible dog park here in the future.
The committee has had two meetings since late August and has been reviewing all town-owned properties.

Factors being considered include lot size, location, proximity to residential areas, and parking and ease of access, among others.
The committee is working toward a short list of potential sites.
Some possible candidates at this point include:
•property north of the Phair Avenue Park;
•property near the Sixth Street rink;
•property on Lillie Avenue North, between Fifth and Sixth Street;
•property on Lillie Avenue South (adjacent to the Legion Park);
•St. Francis Sportsfields; and
•property at the town’s sewage treatment plant in the west end.
Sites which already have been eliminated from consideration include:
•McIrvine Road Park;
•Lion’s Millennium Park;
•Front Street Park;
•Nelson Street Park;
•Pither’s Point Park;
•La Verendrye Parkway;
•property near the McIrvine outdoor rink;
•property near the East End rink;
•Fort Frances Power Corp. substation property on Eighth Street;
•property on the corner of Minnie Avenue and Front Street (next to the wood yard); and
•the proposed condo property on Front Street.
Once the committee decides on a short list of sites, and gets some figures for costing, a public open house will be held to solicit input from local residents as to what they would like to see.
After reviewing any input it gets, the committee will make a recommendation to the Operations and Facilities executive committee, which, in turn, will make a recommendation to council for its consideration in the 2013 budget process.
If it goes ahead, the project will be a joint venture between the town and local Kiwanis Club, which most likely will stage a fundraising campaign to raise money to help build the dog park.
Council last year identified the possibility of allocating space for the exercising of dogs in its most recent strategic plan.
Then in the spring, the Kiwanis got the idea for an off-leash dog park stemming from a survey conducted amongst club members.
They reasoned such a park provides an alternative for dog owners who currently are using the La Verendrye Parkway—not all of whom clean up after their pooches.
The advisory committee is comprised of Kiwanis members Janet Lambert and George Bell, citizens Kathy Egan and Duane Hicks, Couns. Andrew Hallikas and Ken Perry, bylaw officer Arlene Byrnes, and Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown.