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New Signs To Help Guide Dog Owners in Pa

New Signs Guide Dog Owners in Park

Mar 27, 2019 | 3:30 PM

New signs have been added at Marshall Fields Park in Vernon to make it easier to identify a temporary off-leash dog area.

The City says the five signs provide visual markers on the boundary between the soccer fields and where dogs are allowed.

“From the Lakers Clubhouse parking area to the fenced baseball diamond, there were no visual markers as to the boundary,” says a City news release. “These signs were placed to permit dog walkers sufficient space that is level, clean and navigable to connect to the broader expanse of off-leash area nearer the fenced baseball field.”

Mayor Victor Cumming says council will get an environmental report next month which will determine the long term plan for dogs in the park.

“City staff await the environmental assessment report of the park on April 15,” says Cumming. “The report will identify critical areas and buffer zones to protect sensitive wildlife habitats and propose management actions to maintain the integrity of these habitats in the park. The Qualified Environmental Professionals are also reviewing dog behaviour in the park and providing some broader data to give context to management actions.”

Council passed a motion last month to continue to suspend enforcement of a parks and public places bylaw pertaining to dogs off-leash at Marshall Fields.

Dogs are not permitted on the playing fields nor in the Disc Golf area north of Lakers Clubhouse, and those area will continue to be enforced.