Dog owners in northwest Calgary are concerned by a proposed city plan which would modify access to a large green space where their pets are currently allowed to run free.
Bowmont Park is situated on the north shore of the Bow River, near the communities of Silver Springs and Varsity.
Owners currently have few restrictions on where their animals require a leash but, in a city proposed improvement plan for the park, leashes will become mandatory in areas near the Bow River.
According to the city, dogs accessing the river are stirring up silt from the riverbed which is impacting fish spawning areas.
The city says the proposed improvement plan would strike a better balance between the environment and public use.
“In a place like this where you have sensitive river habitat, it's very difficult to recover that damage, more so in places along the bow river, because we have fish spawning areas here,” explains Chris Manderson, City of Calgary Parks. “Silt in the river tends to really impact those sorts of areas, so we do try to do our best to try to protect those sites.”
Some dog owners in the area are circulating a petition to keep their off-leash areas the way they are in the park.
The city is extending the public consultation process for the project until July 5, after which, an open house will be scheduled to discuss the feedback.
For further information on the city's plan for the park, visit City of Calgary Bowmont Park improvement project.
With files from Kevin Fleming
