A report was presented to Clarington Council to construct a new off-leash dog park at Guildwood Park in North Bowmanville.
Through review and analysis, staff found that small dog parks, as small as 0.16-ha, have been constructed in established parks, where space permits. The report recommends a 0.2-ha dog park at Guildwood Park and utilizing existing development reserves to fund the project
Guildwood Park was identified as an appropriate location for a proposed dog park because it requires no removal of existing park amenities and provides 200m of street frontage for parking without impacting residential access. The location also offers high recreational value due to its proximity to the Soper Creek Trail system.
Staff also found that the project can be implemented in late summer 2026 in tandem with the scheduled splash pad reconstruction. The construction of an off-leash dog park involves converting existing open green space, staff would initiate a community engagement process to gather public feedback on the design if council approves the park location.
Alternate Considered Sites
Northglen Park and Longworth Park were also evaluated due to their size. However, both sites present significant operational and community challenges that make them less suitable than Guildwood Park.
Implementing a dog park at these locations would require the removal of existing, highly utilized amenities that generate over $3,600 in annual permit revenue. Removing the amenities would be necessary to meet requirements. Additionally, high traffic volumes on nearby streets at these sites prohibit on-street parking, creating accessibility barriers for users travelling from outside the immediate walking distance.
Staff pointed out that in 2025, unused budget of $195,553.89 was returned to the Parks and Recreation Development Charge Reserve Fund. It’s estimated that the same balance is enough to develop a dog park on the recommended site, inclusive of earthworks, fencing, and pathways.
Public Services identified incremental annual costs of approximately $2,500 for garbage disposal and $2,500 per year for staff time, from existing staff.
Recommendations
The report concluded with the following recommendations:
- That Guildwood Park be endorsed as the location for a new off-leash dog park, and staff be directed to initiate a community engagement process to inform the design prior to construction;
- That a project budget of $195,553.89 be authorized, and funded from the Parks and Recreation Development Charge Reserve Fund;
- That an annual operating budget increase of $5,000 for maintenance and inspections, funded through the Public Works operating budget, be approved; and
- That all interested parties listed in the report and any delegations be advised of Council’s decision.
Staff have continued searching to find alternative locations for a new off-leash dog park in north Bowmanville.