There are many dogs in Kamloops but only one breed can claim the title of top dog. Photographer: Jennifer Stahn

Kelowna starts sniffing around for a new dog park location

A SECOND DOG BEACH SEEN AS A PRIORITY BY SOME RESIDENTS

KELOWNA – In a process that’s sure to ruffle some fur, city planners have begun gathering public opinion on where to put the city’s next off-leash dog park.

Begining today, locals can have their say with an online poll on a subject that has proven politically contentious in the past, pitting increasing numbers of dog owners demanding facilities against residents who don’t necessarily want a dog park in their neighbourhood.

Along with the online poll will be a statistically valid phone survey conducted by NRG Research Group on behalf of the city. It will gauge tolerance and support for off-leash dog parks in local neighbourhoods and identify possible locations.

But dog owners shouldn’t get excited just yet. Staff say possible sites will have to be costed out and approved by council before any paws hit the ground, a process that will take months.

Previous surveys have identified a desire for another dog-friendly beach closer to downtown Kelowna than the only other dog beach in the city at Cedar Creek Park.

To contact a reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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John McDonald

John McDonald

John began life as a journalist through the Other Press, the independent student newspaper for Douglas College in New Westminster. The fluid nature of student journalism meant he was soon running the place, learning on the fly how to publish a newspaper.

It wasn’t until he moved to Kelowna he broke into the mainstream media, working for Okanagan Sunday, then the Kelowna Daily Courier and Okanagan Saturday doing news graphics and page layout. He carried on with the Kelowna Capital News, covering health and education while also working on special projects, including the design and launch of a mass market daily newspaper. After 12 years there, John rejoined the Kelowna Daily Courier as editor of the Westside Weekly, directing news coverage as the Westside became West Kelowna.

But digital media beckoned and John joined Kelowna.com as assistant editor and reporter, riding the start-up as it at first soared then went down in flames. Now John is turning dirt as city hall reporter for iNFOnews.ca where he brings his long experience to bear on the civic issues of the day.

If you have a story you think people should know about, email John at jmcdonald@infonews.ca

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