The Thompson Nicola Regional District is looking at the potential of creating more space in the North Thompson for dogs to get their “zoomies” taken care of in an outdoor setting.
Recent concerns raised about off-leash dogs running around the Birch Island Community Park near Clearwater has prompted discussion within the Regional District itself about whether there needs to be an off-leash dog park in the region.
“It is a community park for all purposes. There’s a picnic shelter and a concession, children’s playground, etcetera there,” noted Sherri Madden, TNRD Community Services Coordinator for the North Thompson. “Some people are intimidated by off-leash dogs. It’s actually not what that park was specifically designed for.”
Madden says while concerns are being raised, there have not been any incidents of note connected to off-leash dogs.
“We have had some comments from local residents that they are seeing a bit of an increase in that kind of activity out there. It makes them a bit uncomfortable in their park. So they were just asking us what we could do about the situation,” said Madden.
Madden says the uptick in complaints is what’s prompted the Regional District to look into the possibility of creating an off-leash park for the North Thompson area, saying its something the public will get a chance to have a say on later this year.
“We are about to undergo a TNRD Parks and Trails Strategy, which will give opportunity for resident input across the entire Regional District,” noted Madden. “From that, we might be able to gauge the level of interest in an off-leash park, and also where appropriate locations for that type of facility may be.”
Of the 10 community parks and 2 regional parks the TNRD runs, none of them currently allow off-leash activities.