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town of three rivers opens its first-ever dog park.
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dog owners in three rivers now have a place to let their pets run off leash with the opening of the town’s first-ever dog park.
the park is now open to the public after work wrapped up last week. it features separate fenced areas for small and large dogs, double-gated entrances for safety and benches. water access and signage that shows the park’s hours and rules are expected to be added soon.
“it’s open now,” three rivers cao john jamieson said. “it’s actually way bigger than i expected.”
jamieson said the park will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. because it is located in a residential neighbourhood. he said dog owners are expected to clean up after their pets, use the appropriate section for small or large dogs and be respectful of other users.
the project cost between $45,000 and $50,000 and was built on town-owned land, which meant the town didn’t have to acquire the land. jamieson said maintenance is expected to be minimal, consisting mainly of grass cutting and routine upkeep.
the idea for a dog park had been raised by residents over several years, with former mayor ed macaulay speaking at a council meeting in february about the need for one.
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macaulay said he was pleased to see the project become a reality.
“i think it’s wonderful, and i’m glad they followed through on it,” he said.
he said dog owners in three rivers previously had to travel to communities such as stratford to use an off-leash park.
“otherwise you’d have to travel about 25 or 30 kilometres to get to a dog park,” he said.
town of three rivers opens its first-ever dog park.
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macaulay said his own experience helped convince him the community needed a local dog park. after being diagnosed with cancer last year, he said he did not have the strength to take his dogs on long walks.
“it was good for me to be able to take them somewhere and let them run free a little bit,” he said.
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he also recalled travelling across canada in 2024 and noticing that many small communities had dog parks.
“we were kind of in the middle of all of that, but we didn’t have a dog park. so it’s a real good benefit to the area.”
jamieson said the town has received requests for a dog park from residents for years and expects the new facility to become a popular community amenity.
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vivian ulinwa is a reporter for the guardian in prince edward island. she can be reached at vulinwa@postmedia.com and followed on x @vivian_ulinwa.
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