Dog owners in Chemainus will soon have a place for their furry friends to exercise and socialize.
Chemainus could soon have a long-awaited, year-round, off-leash dog park.
Dog owners have been barking about the need for such a facility for at least two decades. At this week’s committee of the whole meeting, North Cowichan councillors agreed to recommend to council that an off-leash dog park be established on Elm Street, adjacent to the baseball fields. That means council will likely give its approval at its next council meeting.
In a comprehensive report to council, North Cowichan staff presented its findings from a public engagement process that asked residents for their thoughts on a dog park. The exercise provided valuable input from dog owners, ballpark users and other residents of Chemainus.
Field 3 at the baseball complex has been used during the winter months but that has created conflict between dog owners and users of the field.
“This issue became more pronounced with the expansion of the baseball season later into the fall, increasing the likelihood of overlap with other recreational activities,” the report stated.
“While clear signage is posted onsite to help guide users and provide clarity around permitted use, enforcement remains challenging. Without established schedules and expectations, overlapping use can lead to frustration and tension. Introducing off-leash dog use to these fields presents several challenges. Health and safety concerns include dog waste on playing surfaces, the potential for aggressive or uncontrolled dog behaviour near sports field users, and damage to turf, all of which can compromise the quality and safety of the field.”
More than 700 people participated in the community engagement process and the results were clear with 80 per cent of the respondents favouring moving the off-leash area away from the ballpark. The Elm Street location as well as a site near the high school on Elliott Street were given as options.
Staff gave the following reasons for recommending the Elm Street location:
Pros:
• Provides a dedicated, year-round space for off-leash use.
• Eliminates conflict with youth sports.
• Proximity to Field 3 may ease transition for current users.
• Includes adequate length to support space for dogs to run.
• Municipally owned land supports cost-effective and timely implementation.
Council voted unanimously in support of the recommended Elm Street location.
Chemainus business owner and councillor Chris Istace said “as someone who frequents this spot weekly” he was pleased to see the Elm Street site selected.
“There’s a full, mature forest behind that provides shade and there’s tons of parking,” Istace noted. “It also doesn’t get in the way of future planning at Elliott Street.”
The Elliott Street property includes the skate park and there are plans for housing and other uses.
Istace also pointed out that $20,000 was allocated in the 2025 parks department capital budget so the money for fencing is in place.