Dog park done Jan. 1

By Collin Gallant on October 23, 2018.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com @CollinGallant

A protection plan for the Saamis Archeological site will result in a complete ban of off-leash dog walking in 2019 and only on paved trails throughout the area, a city committee heard on Monday,

Also nixed is a proposed fenced off-leash area south of Kin Coulee park within the environmental reserve that is a designated provincial historic resource, but has been open to dogs and walkers since the 1980s.

That was proposed this summer as officials announced wear on grassland from users and damage to creek banks required remediation.

Council voted down the proposal in August stating it wanted more options from administrators, but committee members heard strict regulations are now the plan going forward.

“We know dog owners are not happy, but we don’t have a lot of options,” said committee chair Coun. Julie Friesen.

“It is extremely important that we protect the site.”

Initial plans to cordon off Indigenous sites that are hundreds to thousands of years old sparked petitions and a flurry of calls from residents to council members. In August they sent the original plan back to committee and told administrators they wanted an alternate plan.

Many dog walkers objected to losing off-leash options in the scenic, wide open flood plain, beneath the Saamis Tepee and coulee walls, and beside the winding Seven Persons Creek.

Last winter, administrators were informed that provincial regulators were concerned with erosion of native grass on a major, looping makeshift path that stretched south to near the Paradise Valley.

City administrators issued an initial proposal to fence in several acres in the middle of the areas as an off-leash park a transition plan, but that it would eventually need to be removed.

“The ideal solution is to keep dogs off those areas, so that means on-leash,” said public services commissioner Karen Charlton, stressing that other off-leash options in other environmental reserves around the city are still open.

Patrons of the area reacted with surprise on Monday.

“I think it deserves some options,” said Phil Kasbrick, who was on an afternoon walk at the site. “It’s such a big off-leash area, and to change it to something else, just like that.”

Another stroller, Carly Desjarlais, said she wondered how on-leash rules could be enforced.

Cole Pugh said dog walkers thought a better plan was coming, and he was disappointed.

“The four acres would have been better than nothing. Why not have that while you’re figuring out something else (like another dog park) somewhere else?”

Coun. Jim Turner said he’d support the plan that includes signs, public education and remediation work.

“The ultimate end of this is on-leash, so sooner is better than later,” said Turner, citing the cost of $100,000 to develop the fenced area, or more complicated options of fencing the several sensitive sites in the area.

The Southeast Alberta Watershed Alliance has also worked to repair shoreline on the creek, but officials say vegetation hasn’t taken hold because it is continually being trampled.

The plan would take effect on January 1, 2019, and eventually the city will review if creek access could be maintained near the northern walking bridge, which is a current favourite among patrons.

Five areas in the coulee feature sites for artifacts, Indigenous camps, buffalo kill, meat processing and butchering sites dating from 3,000 BCE to 1740. About 131 excavations took place from 1971-73, and in 1984 it was designated as a protected site.

It is trusted in care to the city, which classifies it as environmental reserve, which bars development, but doesn’t have the same status as parkland.

“There are choices for dog owners, but this area needs to be repaired, and that means having dogs on leash,” said Charlton.

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