Open house on off-leash policy next Thursday

By Medicine Hat News on May 28, 2022.

The City of Medicine Hat is reaching out to residents and trail users to share information and garner feedback on a proposed policy outlining criteria on how off-leash areas will be designed for the community.

The city announced in a Friday release it will be hosting an open house to view the draft off-leash policy on Thursday at the South Ridge YMCA from 6-8 p.m.

“We understand the importance of trail safety, which includes the four-legged members of our families as well,” Medicine Hat special projects manager Dave Young says in the release. “We are confident that our residents, with and without pets, can help us shape a policy that keeps safe trail use at the top of minds.”

The Parks and Recreation master plan provided the following action as a final recommendation: Conduct a study to identify optimal locations, sizes and configurations of designated off-leash areas, and change policy to only offer off-leash opportunities in specified area.

The draft off-leash dog policy can be found at shapeyourcity.medicinehat.ca/off-leash-area-review.