Banff dog park ready to go

Banff’s long-awaited off-leash dog park is due to open this coming weekend.

A 2.4-metre high fence has been constructed around the 1.5-acre site in the industrial compound and crews of volunteers have helped move felled logs from inside the fence.

“There’s still a few things to do, like adding a bin and bag dispensers, but all things being well, I think we can open the dog park potentially this weekend,” said Chad Townsend, the Town of Banff’s environmental coordinator.

Parks Canada, which had concerns about the affect of the dog park on wildlife and a nearby critical wildlife corridor, gave their official blessing to the Hawk Avenue dog park in mid-May.

To protect wildlife and a nearby wildlife corridor, the dog park will be closed during dawn and dusk periods (8 p.m. to 7 a.m.), as these are critical times for wildlife movement.

Councillor Grant Canning, who promised to push for a dog park as part of his election campaign in 2010, said he is thrilled the long-term vision has become a reality.

“Thank you to Chad and administration. It wasn’t all that long ago we didn’t think this was even possible,” he said.

“Through the efforts of administration and volunteers, we’re just days away from having a dog park in Banff.”

Town council approved $30,000 for the development of an off-leash dog park on Hawk Avenue as part of 2012 budget deliberations last December.