Advocating for strategies and improvements that optimize park experiences for Torontonians with and without dogs.
About the Toronto Dog Park Community
The Toronto Dog Park Community is a grassroots organization with 5,700 members across the city. We advocate for off-leash strategies and improvements that optimize park experiences for people with and without dogs. Our group grew out of a community effort to defend Humber Bay West Dog Park, which was in danger of losing half its land. Information from other municipalities’ off-leash strategies and master plans was used to defend the dog park, since Toronto does not have an off-leash strategy of its own.
The Toronto Dog Park Community’s primary goal is to inspire the City of Toronto to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based off-leash strategy or master plan that reflects the best practices of cities across North America and around the world. This would solve our existing challenges, which are significant and avoidable, leading to better parks, increased bylaw compliance, fewer conflicts and a more liveable, enjoyable city for everyone.
Our Mission
Our mission is to advocate for dog-related strategies and improvements that optimize park experiences for people with and without dogs. We will do this in the following ways:
- Inspire the City of Toronto to develop a comprehensive People, Parks and Dogs Strategy to address the changing needs of our growing city.
- Collaborate with the City of Toronto, acting as a helpful partner, resource and liaison.
- Connect and engage dog park associations, sharing constructive ways to optimize experiences.
- Promote dog park etiquette and responsible dog ownership through a dog park ambassador program.
- Reinforce the important ways dog parks benefit people, dogs and our city.
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Benefits of dog parks
- Better socialized and exercised dogs may lead to better behaved dogs outside of off-leash areas.
- Providing off-leash areas may lead to better compliance with bylaws outside of off-leash areas.
- Designated off-leash areas can reduce unsanctioned off-leash activity in environmentally sensitive areas.
- Many municipalities consider off-leash areas places for people to enjoy legitimate recreation, like tennis courts, sports fields and playgrounds.
- There is an increasing need for parks to fulfill more functions as cities densify and existing park spaces need to support a larger population.
- Off-leash dog areas may reduce conflicts with neighbourhood residents and other park users.
- Off-leash areas can build community, fostering connections between neighbours and park users.
- Off-leash areas may be useful for activating underutilized spaces within the city that might be attracting undesirable activity.
- There is an opportunity at off-leash areas for educating dog owners about animal health and welfare, thereby encouraging more responsible pet ownership.
(Source: City of Surrey 2012-2021 Dog Off Leash Area Strategy)
