Duane Hicks
A local group of volunteers wants to build an off-leash dog park here—and is hoping the town gets on board with the idea.
“Paws Around Town” is asking the town for the clear and vacant property between Lillie Avenue South and Webster Avenue, near the Legion Park.
Spokesman Carey Basaraba, who first mentioned the idea of a dog park during a public meeting concerning dogs at Seven Oaks in late January, told council Monday night that such a park is “desperately needed.”
“Currently, people are running their dogs at Seven Oaks, which is causing some issues, as well as using the baseball diamonds because they are enclosed,” he said.
He also the latter will be off-limits once the sports season starts up.
The group envisions a completely fenced-in area with a double-gate system where once the dog is inside, it cannot get out to cause any issues with passers-by.
The objective is twofold: to give the dogs a place to run free knowing they can’t escape while allowing them to socialize with other dogs and people.
The group estimates it will take about 1,400 linear feet of six-foot chain-link fence to close off the outer area with a service gate and a double-gate entry system.
Within the enclosure will be two separate areas—one for big dogs and the other for small ones.
Basaraba said the installation will be done by volunteers with the help of Paul Nicholson.
Phase one of the project will include fencing off the area and installing waste disposal stations, as well as a few light poles for safety and to permit evening use of the park.
Phase two will include making water areas for the dogs—a 12-inch deep pool for larger dogs; a six-inch deep one for smaller dogs.
These could be supplied with water from the nearby hydrant, and drain via gravity to the river bank on the south side of the property.
This phase also could include a trail system leading to play equipment areas.
Phase three would include the installation of play equipment for dogs, as well as benches, tables, and sheltered canopies for people.
“Paws Around Town” is asking the town:
•to grant the property to design and build the park;
•to determine how much it would be willing to contribute to the project (i.e., matching funds etc.);
•to consider installing a few light poles in the centre of the dog park areas; and
•to designate a viable water source and drainage plan.
Once all of this is known, a final drawing of the park can be made and the group will know how much they have to raise, noted Basaraba, who added the committee is optimistic about the project.
“This is Fort Frances, the most generous community around and, in a nutshell, ‘Boundless,’” he told council.
“We are pretty sure most of this can be accomplished by volunteers and sponsorship of the park by businesses and companies supplying materials, etc.,” Basaraba added.
“It seems like we are quoting too cheap but on the committee’s part, it would be a best guess cost of $30,000-40,000 to make this a viable park, with the major cost being the fencing as long as the town will install the lights as required,” he noted.
Basaraba also said a local business has agreed to donate time on the welding of materials in return for advertising on a sign.
As such, it’s possible other businesses also will get on board by donating gravel, concrete, sand, and equipment for the park’s construction.
Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig said he was impressed by Basaraba coming forward from a “practical standpoint.”
“You’ve taken the time with people in your group to find some solutions,” he remarked.
This proposal was referred to the Planning and Development executive committee, with input from the Operations and Facilities executive committee.
The public can find the “Paws Around Town” group on Facebook.
What’s been done
The town has looked at the idea of an off-leash dog park in the recent past.
An ad hoc off-leash dog park committee comprised of local citizens was formed in mid-2012.
Over six months, the committee met five times to review a listing of all green spaces and parks presently maintained by the Parks and Cemeteries department.
Each member of the committee provided both positive and negative comments on each site, and ranked their six top.
Four candidate sites eventually were selected by the committee, including:
•green space near the water tower, west-end boat launch, and the sewage treatment plant;
•property just south of the Fifth Street West right-of-way between Wright Avenue and McIrvine Road (adjacent to the railroad tracks);
•green space near the Sixth Street rink in the north end of town; and
•property north of the Phair Avenue park.
But the project was put on hold indefinitely mainly due to a lack of money.
Job layoffs were announced by Resolute Forest Products in late November, 2012, and the town was facing the financial pressures resulting from the decreased tax assessment of the local mill property.
The committee agreed the town was unable to provide any in-kind services and financial support for the completion of such a project at that time.
