Yorkregion.com - Vaughan - Who’s going to let the dogs out?
Who’s going to let the dogs out?
Vaughan
May 10, 2008 11:15 PM
No easy answers in choosing a Leash-free park site
By: Caroline Grech
A park where dogs can roam with no strings attached is still on the horizon, but continued opposition to the plan is keeping the effort on a short leash.
The city has instructed a committee charged with finding a site to continue with their work. But when it will be selected and built is another story altogether.
The plan to find a home for the proposed park has been checkered with fighting between committee members and a councillor, opposition from neighbours near proposed sites and other councillors stating they don’t want it in their ward.
In December the city’s off leash dog park committee, made up of community volunteers and councillors Tony Carella and Bernie Di Vona, narrowed options to seven possible locations.
As part of the process, the committee held a meeting in each of the proposed areas.
But right off the bat controversy erupted at the committee’s top choice April 15 at William Foster Woods at the North East corner of Major Mackenzie Drive and Islington Avenue.
Councillor Peter Meffe took issue with how long the process was taking and with the committee’s first choice.
This week Mr. Meffe formally asked the city to speed up the process and direct staff to investigate and recommend sites for council. As well, he asked for a choice to be approved within 60 days.
But some members of the committee that have worked to find a site for the last 10 months took offence at what they felt was Mr. Meffe interfering in the process.
“Councillor Meffe is attempting to circumvent the process. We need to keep the process clean. Please let us go through the process we agreed to,” Nancy Van Kessel, a member of the committee said.
John McCormack, another member of the committee, was also on the defensive.
He explained they have met in coffee shops and their homes and walked 30 possible sites over ten months on a volunteer basis.
“Today’s proposal is a rushed job and he’s (Mr. Meffe) showing total disregard for the committee,” Mr. McCormack said.
Mr. Meffe, who came armed with a slide show showing all the different spots there are in the city for leash free parks, complete with zoom in shots of doggie doo both large and small, said he simply wanted to expedite the process.
The countless deputations and the lengthy slide show from Mr. Meffe, led to the exasperation of some councillors.
“Let the committee finish the work. If we have to move up the deadline then so be it. Give them six months to review the sites and let them bring a site together for September,” Regional Councillor Gino Rosati said.
Mr. Rosati’s motion worked for Mr. Meffe, who eventually withdrew his motion.
Also a part of the motion is that Mr. Meffe joins the committee and that a report comes to council no later than Sept. 30.
The committee will continue to have meetings in the communities of proposed sites.
Where will the park go?
The following is a list of those sites, in order of the committee’s preference:
• William Foster Woods, NE corner Major Mackenzie Drive and Islington Avenue
• hydro corridor abutting the Glen Shields neighbourhood, access of Centre Street
• portion of the Concord-Thornhill Regional Park, either within the hydro corridor or at the eastern end of the site
• the area north of Patricia Kemp Community Centre, south of Operations Yard
• vacant lands NW of the intersection of Jane Street and Major Mackenzie Drive
• hydro corridor abutting Patricia Kemp Community Centre
• vacant lands immediately north of Harry Putter driving range at Islington Avenue and Rutherford Road