Petition To Expand The Designated Off-Leash Boundaries That Currently Exist At Kilcona Park

Petition To Expand The Designated Off-Leash Boundaries That Currently Exist At Kilcona Park

Councillors Jeff Browaty & Lillian Thomas
City of Winnipeg Parks & Recreation


The purpose of this petition is to request expansion of the designated off-leash boundaries that currently exist at Kilcona Park. The petition action is meant to finally speak for off-leash users of Kilcona Park who have good-naturedly accepted all of the limitations and restrictions of the park, just so we can continue to enjoy the off-leash walks we have with our dogs. We dont tend to call and complain about the toboggans, the bikes, the hot-air balloons, the kites, the fireworks, the snowmobiles, four wheelers, and dirt bikes, the mud, the puddles, the potholes, the mosquitoes, the litter in the athletic fields, the untoward comments of the belligerent non-pet people who are only there the one time, the special events that are held there without any advance warning, the electronic flying devices, the goose poop, or the lack of parking. We tend accept all of this as part of living and getting along in a community and usually just discuss it among ourselves.

What is becoming difficult to accept is that hundreds of people who walk dogs here day in and day out should have a voice and yet it seems we do not. We vastly outnumber the people who use the park for other purposes, and yet we continue to have to accommodate those people. The Kilcona off-leash area is in all likelihood one of the most regularly-used parks in our city. It is certainly very well-loved by those of us who use it every day. We feel that it is time that we receive accommodation for our needs as well.

Some valid points that we would like to make:

- Other than the developed rec area/athletic fields, the vast majority of the park is unused space which the dog-walkers use on a regular ongoing basis 24/7, 365 days a year in all weather conditions, adverse or not.

- The trails in the designated off leash area are in dire need of improvement. Especially when it rains, the trails are virtual mud, therefore creating not only a mess for people & their dogs, but also creating dangerous & slippery conditions. We are patiently awaiting some improvements, yet all that is imposed on us are more restrictions.

- The expansion of designated boundaries will not only make use of the sparsely & inadequately used spaces, but will also provide the Kilcona off-leash taxpayers with a much needed larger off-leash environment for their pets

- A dog park builds bonds within the human community

- Dog park patrons are usually registered voters, educated & somewhat affluent people and very attractive to local business. Such citizens attract others like themselves to live in the area, continuing the trend to increase revenues to local businesses and to the tax base.

- Most of the dogs (and people) who attend the park require exercise that the current restrictions do not permit. The cardiovascular benefits provided are important.

Thank you for your consideration of this petition.