There is a proposal for an off-leash dog park to be established at the Nanoose Community Park.
Unfortunately, says the Regional District of Nanaimo, it can’t be done at the Nanoose Road site. The park, currently being leased to the RDN for 10-year term, is meant only to provide community playground and also for hiking trails.
The land has been vacant since the aging playground equipment, originally installed in 1995, was dismantled in 2016.
A resident at a meeting in June recommended to the Nanoose Bay Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee that it look at creating an off-leash dog park as an alternative function for the site, since another playground already exists close by at Nanoose Bay Elementary School. Parks staff have also received an inquiry about the use of the community park site for a sport court.
Given these interests, the POSAC now would like to speak with the province as to the possibility of amending the lease to allow for other uses on the site, such as a fenced, off-leash dog park, sport court or other recreational use.
It was moved and seconded that staff be directed to submit a request to Crown Lands to expand the potential uses for the Nanoose Road Community Park to include a dog park.
— NEWS Staff