Welcome! Public Open House

Site Selection of the Primary Off-Leash Dog Park West of Highway 400

Get updated with progress so far

Learn about key findings from the

survey

Choose your preferred location for a Primary Off

Leash Dog Park of the short listed sites

Find out about the background work

and research completed to date

Speak with staff and consultants

Propose other locations for future local dog parks at

the map

Fill out a comments sheet – Deadline is

October 4th

Today we invite you to

Your feedback is important to finalize site selection!

2 3 4 1

5 6 7

Comment Deadline October 4th

www.vaughan.ca/dogpark

Research

Tier 1 Criteria Assessment

Tier 2 Criteria Assessment

Recommendations to Council

Timeline & Site Selection Process

• Research into previous off leash dog park process and outcomes

• Research into other off leash dog parks in Southern Ontario

• Conducting a workshop with City staff • Conducting a focus group with stakeholders • Develop a list of potential sites • Develop list of criteria to assess the

suitability of potential locations • Conduct public survey

• Assess potential locations against Tier 1 criteria to determine suitability, identify opportunities / advantages and challenges / disadvantages

• Develop a short list of potential sites for further evaluation and consideration

• Assess short list of potential locations against Tier 2 criteria to determine suitability, identify opportunities / advantages and challenges / disadvantages

• Consult with the public on proposed locations • Consult with regulatory agencies (TRCA, York Region, MNRF)

• Prepare report of findings and final recommendations

• Submit report and present to Council

We are here

Amec Foster Wheeler appointed contract to identify potential locations west of Hwy 400

Internal stakeholder

meeting User focus group

meeting Survey, public

outreach Public Open

House

Consultations with regulatory

agencies, finalize report and

recommendations, submit to City Staff

and Council

Presentation to Council

Land acquisition, design and technical

consultations, construction

(pending Council approval)

May 2016 June 1, 2016 June 28, 2016 July 1 to

Sep. 11, 2016 Sep. 20, 2016 Sep to Oct, 2016

2017 to 2019 Dec. 2016

We are here

Primary Off-Leash Dog Parks Identified Requirements:

– Serves a group of neighborhoods

– Accessible by foot and car with parking provided

– Generally 1 hectare or greater, and – Provides physical space and access to infrastructure required for off leash dog facilities

This is the focus of this study

Existing primary dog

park

Zone of the

second location

Assessment Criteria Tier 1

Proximity to play areas, designated areas, residential areas, major intersections, and streets

Ease of access by vehicle Availability Ownership Size Accessibility Safety and security Traffic implications Park status Microclimate Drainage

Tier 2 Cost of Construction Cost of Maintenance Cost of Acquisition Innovation Synergies Public House and Survey

Feedback

Existing Dog Park Concord Thornhill Regional Park (CTRP) What we’ve heard in the survey

5.1% 7.1%

6.6%

11.2%

7.6% 30.5%

32.0%

How Often Respondents Visited CTRP

Daily

A few times a week

About once a week

A few times a month

About once a month

A few times a year

Less often than a fewtimes a year

6.7%

38.1%

40.2%

10.8%

4.1%

Respondents Rating of CTRP

Excellent

Good

Average

Poor

Very poor

Weekdays (Monday through Friday), 39.4% Weekends

(Saturday and

Sunday), 78.2%

Days That Respondents Visited CTRP

6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 8.4%

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 60.7%

4 p.m. to 9 p.m., 50.3%

Times That Respondents Visited CTRP

Number of Survey Responses 200

Key feedback Increased bylaw enforcement

(aggressive dogs, inappropriate use, poop & scoop waste collection)

Improved maintenance (frequency)

Improved surface material (improve grass, add wood chips)

Improved lighting Improved accessibility Addition of :

• Shade/wind coverage (trees, shelter)

• Drinking water • Agility / training area • Benches • Separate entrances for

small and large dogs • Varied terrain

What We’ve Heard So Far

3.6%

14.9%

22.7%

29.7%

19.5%

7.9%

1.7% 0.0%

Age of Respondents

19 years or under 19 years orunder20 to 29 years 20 to 29 years

30 to 39 years 30 to 39 years

40 to 49 years 40 to 49 years

50 to 59 years 50 to 59 years

60 to 69 years 60 to 69 years

70 to 79 years 70 to 79 years

80 years or older 80 years orolder

81.2%

18.8%

Respondents Owning Dogs

No

Yes

83.9%

13.9%

1.7%

0.4%

Small dog (less than 20 kilograms/44 pounds)

1 2 3 4+

85.2%

11.0%

2.4%

1.4%

Large dog (greater than to 20 kilograms/44 pounds)

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

5 minutes10 minutes15 minutes20 minutes

More than 25 minutes

Time Respondents Would Spend Driving to Park

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

5 minutes

10 minutes

15 minutes

20 minutes

More than 25 minutes

Time Respondents Would Spend Walking to Park

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Off-leash designated park such asConcord Thornhill Regional Park

Off-leash in natural areas/trails

Off-leash in municipal parks

Dog walkers

Dog day care or similar

Play in backyard/home

Walks around neighbourhood

How Respondents Exercise Their Dogs

Number of Survey Responses

Key takeaways – Need for more than one park,

variety of sizes and locations – Preference for local parks – Most owners have one dog – Willing to walk 10-15 minutes – Willing to drive10 minutes

Identified concerns

– Dog waste (not picking up, not enough waste bins, waste bins not cleaned out, smell)

– Safety (leashing dogs unless in unleashed areas, leashing dogs upon entrance and exit of off leash area, aggressive dogs, fencing)

– Noise (barking) – Traffic (increased and parking) – Hours of operation – Improve education on the use of

a dog park and policies – Management (bylaw

enforcement) – Improve and responsive

maintenance

Non-designated

Non-designated

530

28%

24% 20%

15%

13%

Respondents Rating of Criteria

Location

Size

Proximity toresidencesCost to build

Proximity to schoolyards, play areas

12%

12%

16%

18%

20%

22%

Respondents Rating of Amenities Agility course

Water for dog bathing

Separation and separate entrancesfor large and small dog areasBenches for sitting

Water for drinking

Shaded areas and trees

11%

13%

14%

17%

18%

27%

Respondents Rating of Surface Material Concrete or asphaltpavingSand

Gravel screenings

Artificial turf (syntheticproduct)Wood chips (mulch)

Turf (grass vegetation)

38.2%

44.5%

4.2% 10.3%

Respondents Location Type Preferences

Natural area/trails

Park within yourneighbourhood

Park outside yourneighbourhood

Non-residential areas

What Makes a ‘Good’ Off Leash Dog Park Sound Planning and Management • Governance • Education and Awareness • Effective Guidelines for Design,

Operation, and Use • Effective and Responsive

Maintenance

Characteristics • Appropriate size • Close proximity to enable walking

and short driving time • Safe, secure, and accessible • Social space • Part of the community • Offers recreational opportunities

Features and Facilities • Separate enclosure for small dogs • Shade trees and structures • Access to water • Outdoor furniture (benches, picnic tables) • Perimeter fencing and double gates • Surfaces that are easy to maintain • Waste receptacles • Clear signage • Agility course (play equipment) • Parking

In Bold indicates top features from the survey

Primary Off Leash Dog Park – Proposed Locations Location B • Located near Rutherford Road and Highway

27 behind the new FedEx building • Scored 61 out of 75 as part of the Tier 1

assessment • Scored 21 out of 25 as part of the initial Tier

2 assessment • Advantages / Opportunities

– Access to future multiuse trail – Construction and maintenance cost

efficiencies – Available for development – Synergies with planned district park

facilities • Disadvantages / Challenges

– Additional open space property purchase to the north would likely be required

Location E • Located near Rutherford Road and Islington

Avenue behind the proposed hospice location • Scored 51 out of 75 as part of the Tier 1

assessment • Scored 15 out of 25 as part of the initial Tier 2

assessment • Advantages / Opportunities

– Central location that is easily accessible by walking

• Disadvantages / Challenges – Coordination with neighbouring property

owners – Close proximity to environmentally

sensitive areas (wetland) – Restrictive vehicular access – Lease, license, or easement required

with external agency – Extensive site work required, grading and

servicing

Location C • Located near Major Mackenzie

Drive and Highway 27 • Scored 45 out of 75 as part of

the Tier 1 assessment • Scored 11 out of 25 as part of

the initial Tier 2 assessment • Advantages / Opportunities

– City owned land – Existing trail into

neighbouring residential area

• Disadvantages / Challenges – High risk due to impact by

spring and summer flooding

– Close proximity to environmentally sensitive areas (wetland, sensitive habitat, and flood plain)

– Restrictive vehicular access

– Additional property purchase would likely be required

Location G • Located at the end of Aviva

Park Drive • Scored 57 out of 75 as part of

the Tier 1 assessment • Scored 23 out of 25 as part of

the initial Tier 2 assessment • Advantages / Opportunities

– Owned by the City – Good vehicular access

• Disadvantages / Challenges – Increased travel time – Adjacent to industrial

area and truck traffic – Located south of

Highway 407 – Accessibility

considerations to be further evaluated

West Vaughan

Proposed Locations

~ Place your comments here~

Proposed Locations

~Place your comments here~

Thank You 1. Your input is important! The City will be finalizing the preferred

site based on your feedback received through this open house and via information posted on the website, and in consultation with regulatory agencies (TRCA, York Region, MNRF)

2. Finalize recommendations and submit to City Council. A presentation to City Council are anticipated for December 2016 – If approved by City Council, appropriate funds will be set aside for the

development of the selected location

3. Recommendations will identify the City consider a Local Dog Park pilot project. – These are:

• Off leash dog parks may be located in local, community parks • Provide a location to exercise dogs but tend to be smaller in size and have limited infrastructure • Require consultation with neighbouring property owners

Next Steps

We Want to Hear from You!

Comment Deadline October

4th