People, Parks and Pups: A strategy for sharing parks and open space in New Westminster

Project Update, February 2022: City Council adopted the People, Parks and Pups Strategy on February 14, 2022. Click here to access the approved strategy, and here for the report to Council.

Project Update, December 2021: The Phase 2 Engagement Summary Report is now available! Check out the summary of the engagement process, and the key themes we heard from participants. You can also read the direct comments from community members in the verbatim input report.

The project team used the engagement results to help refine the draft People, Parks and Pups Strategy recommendations. The strategy was presented to City Council at its December 13, 2021 meeting, and Council was asked for feedback. Click here to access the Council presentation, report and watch the meeting video.

Project Update, August 2021: Phase 1 Engagement Summary Report is now available! Check out the summary of the engagement process, and the key themes we heard from participants. The report also includes the verbatim input we received through the survey, online forum, mapping tool and meeting notes.

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Conversations with the community are underway to better plan and design parks and open spaces that meet the needs of all residents - including seniors, adults, children and dogs! With population growth and people living in smaller spaces, it’s important that we hear all perspectives (dog and non-dog owners) on how best to foster the health and wellbeing of all park users and promote responsible dog ownership.

The Parks & Recreation Department is seeking input from all residents to help develop a long-term strategy called People, Parks and Pups: A strategy for sharing parks and open space in New Westminster. The strategy will consider all points of view in planning, designing and maintaining space for dogs that respects a diversity of park uses.

WHY DO WE NEED A STRATEGY?

The People, Parks and Pups Strategy is an opportunity for the Parks & Recreation Department to hear from the community on how to successfully include more space for dogs into the existing parks and open space system in New Westminster. The goal of this project is to be proactive in planning and providing space for dogs, while balancing the many other (and often competing) recreational needs within our parks and opens spaces. Meeting the growing demand for dog off-leash areas in New Westminster requires conversations with a diverse community of park users to develop creative solutions.

How can I Engage?

Two phases of community engagement have been completed for this project, and helped inform development of the People, Parks and Pups Strategy. The strategy will be presented to City Council on December 13, 2021.

WHERE ARE NEW WESTMINSTER'S DOG OFF-LEASH AREAS?

Map of New Westminster's Dog Off-Leash Areas

Off-leash dog areas provide safe and secure spaces where dog owners can legally run their dog off-leash and are a valued service in urban settings. The City of New Westminster currently operates eight Dog Off-Leash Areas:

Downtown (temporary location), Hume Park, Moody Park, Quayside (temporary location), Queen's Park, Westburnco, West Side, Ryall Park.