How changes could be coming for dogs in Pacific Spirit Regional Park

One of Metro Vancouver's best, and busiest regional parks — where most of the space is leash optional for dogs — could see changes coming to where and how pets are allowed to run free.

The regional government is currently reviewing its dog management plan for the 8.6 square kilometre Pacific Spirit Regional Park, with a potential pilot project coming sometime this year. The park has 55 kilometers of trails and around 65 per cent of the trail system is designated as "leash optional."

The review is upping the debate over how to best allow park users with dogs and those without to equitably be together in the greenspace without conflict.

Annie Ciernia, a UBC assistant professor in the Faculty of Medicine, recently presented to members of Metro Vancouver's Regional Parks Committee asking they split the park in two over dog use: on-leash for the bigger south section and off-leash for the smaller north section of the park.

"In 2023 I was running through Pacific Spirit … and a dog was off-leash running around uncontrolled on the trail," she told committee members. "The dog charged me, broke my leg and permanently damaged my knee."

WATCH | Freedom for dogs to roam could be in jeopardy at Pacific Spirit Park:

Metro Vancouver considers changes to dog leashing requirements at Pacific Spirit Park

10 days ago

Duration 2:00

Pet owners who use one of Metro Vancouver's busiest parks might have to change the way they walk their dogs. The district is reviewing its dog management plan for Pacific Spirit Park, where pets are mostly allowed to run off-leash. As Jon Hernandez reports, stricter leash requirements could be on the way.

Ciernia said that current rules, which call for leashes in a small area and on some trails, but not others, are confusing, hard to enforce and create conflict among users.

"Some trails in fact go from leash optional to leash required and then back to leash optional again," said Ciernia. "And actually, the trail where I had my accident is one of those examples."

She's proposing a new park split for on-leash and off-leash would have essentially 16th Avenue as the dividing line.

At their Feb. 5 meeting following Ciernia's presentation alongside Electoral Area A (UBC) Director Jen McCutcheon, the committee commented and debated the pros and cons of the issue for 30 minutes while staff recognized dogs in parks are a polarizing issue.

Mike Redpath, director of Metro Vancouver's regional parks, expressed compassion to Ciernia over her injury.

"We know that there's no silver bullet when it comes to dealing with dogs off leash in public spaces."

Redpath said any solution should include a combination of education, enforcement, park design and partnerships.

The response to Ciernia's presentation and suggestion that off-leash areas of the park should be reduced was swift.

Advocates issued an online petition asking people opposed to making "a large part of Pacific Spirit Regional Park into on-leash areas," to demand a "full consultation," before any pilot programs are implemented.

Fred Lee, who visits the park with his dog, told CBC News on Wednesday that it's unfortunate there have been injuries in as a result of conflicts between dogs and users there.

Lee, a well-known Vancouver presenter who at one time appeared frequently on CBC Radio, said he does not want the solution to limit the off-leash space.

"Vancouver is severely lacking in large, safe off-leash areas where dogs can run freely without the dangers of traffic," he said. "Pacific Spirit Park provides one of the few remaining spaces where dogs can truly exercise, socialize and engage in natural behaviours."

Lee is calling for better education within the park and calling on all dog owners visiting to ensure they know how to obey the current rules.

Metro Vancouver said Ciernia's proposal is not associated with the regional government. It has not said when a potential pilot project for Pacific Spirit Regional Park could be implemented, but that staff would be reporting back to committee members at a future meeting.

The next regional parks committee meeting is March 5. Metro Vancouver committees are open to delegations wishing to present to them. Applications must be made at least seven working day prior to the meeting.