Dog walkers and park users are encouraged to share their experiences with Penticton’s leash-optional pilot program launching March 1. Designated spaces within select parks will be more Fido-friendly over the next six months as the City gathers feedback to help determine whether these leash-optional locations become permanent.
Five parks have been identified for the six-month trial period:
• Riverside Park
• Okanagan Lake Park
• Skaha Park Main
• Skaha Park East
• 1900 Penticton Ave (Entrance to Water Treatment Plant)
“We will be collecting feedback from each of the five locations to determine what works – and what doesn’t,” says Ysabel Contreras, Parks Planning and Capital Project Coordinator. “Park users can share their experiences immediately by scanning a QR code at the park, or by filling out a feedback form at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca.”
Detailed maps of the section dogs may be off-leash are available at penticton.ca/dog-parks or on the project page at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca
Tips for dog owners that choose to go off-leash in the trial spaces include:
• Have your dog within sight and under verbal control at all times
• Pick up your dog’s waste
• Stop your dog from running into or jumping up on people
• Have current dog licence tags
• Not have more than 2 dogs per person
Residents are invited to share their feedback at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca until Saturday, August 31, which is also when the pilot project wraps up. As a reminder, City staff will be monitoring feedback throughout the pilot project and may make adjustments to the availability of the off-leash areas at any time. After August 31, dogs must be leashed in the designated areas until Council decides whether the leash-optional spaces become permanent.