Africville off-leash dog park to close during reunion festival

Halifax Regional Municipality says the off-leash dog area of Africville Park will be closed for the annual Africville Picnic and Reunion Festival this week.

The city says the closure, like in past years, will span the duration of the festival from Thursday to Monday.

The park has stirred up indignation among some members of the city's black community because of Halifax's refusal to immediately close the off-leash dog area, where their ancestors first settled in the mid-1800s.

City council agreed last month to shut it down, but not until another off-leash dog area can be found nearby.

Councillors have asked that a new park be in place by the end of this year.

Public consultations will be held Wednesday night at the Halifax Forum to discuss a new proposed fenced-in off-leash dog park near the MacKay Bridge.