Dear Editor:
Moody Park residents are getting a fenced dog park - we should be happy. The city has told us they did a lot of public consultation and we were listened to. This is all good, right?
What they don't tell you is the consultation was flawed from start to finish. They don't mention the parks department had predetermined the "spots" - not where dogs currently play, but simply "space" they shoe-horned in and called a dog park with little planning. They don't tell us that our public input was all but meaningless and recommendations and numerous health and safety fears for babies, toddlers, children and pets using this area were simply dismissed.
They sure don't tell you, in the entire consultation process the children's playground was Photoshopped out. This is the "toddler's corner" of the park with a playground, spray park and daycare centre. This is where our babies, toddlers and youngest children play. Children make loud noises and sudden movements that can initiate the play and/or prey drive in even the calmest of dogs. Babies, toddlers and children also touch the ground more and will have greater health risks being exposed to higher volumes of feces and urine brought by the increased volume of dogs that will come through these areas (on and off leash).
Moody Park is the only green space serving 25 per cent of New Westminster's population. An estimated 1,000 dogs live in our neighbourhoods. We need a dog park.
What we don't need is a dog-park that is unsuitable and one that puts our youngest children at risk. The "toddlers' triangle" of the park is not the place to put a dog park.
No other municipality in the region has a dog park with three shared common pathways so close to a children's playground, spray park and a day care centre. Why? To protect the safety and health of their most vulnerable - the small young children that utilize this area.
Our new mayor and council have approved this site and even expanded the area without any further public consultation. But then why would they consult the public?
D. McKenzie, New Westminster
