Heather Park dog off-leash area

The new fenced dog off-leash area at Heather Park is now complete and open to the public.

Based on feedback from round 2 engagement, minor changes have been made to the final concept for the new dog off-leash area (OLA) at Heather Park.

• The surfacing material for the OLA will be engineered wood fibre (EWF), a type of woodchip commonly used in playgrounds. EWF is a durable material that does not splinter, is considered universally accessible, provides good drainage, and will be soft on dog paws.

• We are exploring options to provide a drinking fountain with a dog bowl

The Round 2 engagement summary is now available. Round 2 of public engagement ran from April 27-May 18 and included a draft concept design that was shaped by the feedback from the first round of engagement. Read the round 2 engagement summary to learn about what we heard.

Take a look at the round 2 engagement boards to see how your feedback from the first round of engagement has shaped the design concept.

In our first round of engagement, we heard from you on topics including park use and current conditions. Take a look at the engagement summary from round 1.

Heather Park is a neighbourhood park located in the north end of the South Cambie Neighbourhood in close proximity to Fairview and Mount Pleasant Neighbourhoods. The park has a lawn (0.6 hectares), a small playground, and four tennis courts. Mature street trees surround the park and provide shade during the hot summer months

The People, Parks and Dogs Strategy identified the importance of providing off-leash areas (OLAs) within a 15-minute walk for most residents. An OLA at Heather Park will increase access for dog off-leash activity in two priority neighbourhoods that are currently underserved. Heather Park has suitable space and amenities that a fenced off-leash area could be added while maintaining space for other activities.

The maps below show how much of the underserved area can be serviced by off-leash areas at both Heather and Granville Parks.

The People, Parks & Dogs Strategy (2017) provides a framework to deliver well-planned and designed parks for people with and without dogs. The recommendations from the strategy fall into four key themes – access, design, stewardship and enforcement. Through mapping and analysis, the strategy identified areas of Vancouver that are deficient in off-leash area access as well as six neighbourhoods to be prioritized for new and renewed off-leash spaces. With the guidance of the strategy, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is committed to providing equitable and improved access to OLAs across the city.

Public engagement is an important part in implementing the recommendations of the strategy. Input from all park users will help to ensure the successful renewal of this well-used amenity, while supporting a safe and comfortable experience for all park users, with and without dogs.