Council Refers Dog Park to the 2026 Budget Process

Staff Report Presents Dog Park Survey Results and Options for Proceeding

At the May 7, 2025 Regular Meeting of Council, the Chief Administrative Officer presented a report with the results of the dog park survey. The survey received 452 responses and provided some interesting insights.

46% of respondents were opposed to a dog park advancing.

Responses showed a clear preference for separate areas for small and large dogs. There also appears to be a need based on the large number of respondents with large dogs.

Amenities such as waste receptacles, parking, shade, running water, and dog waste bag dispensers were ranked highest in need for a dog park.

Options for Follow Up to Survey Results

Staff presented three options resulting from the data collected by the survey.

1. Proceed - Council would select a location and identify amenities to be provided. If Council would like to select the EECC as the location for the dog park, further engagement would be required in consideration that Aylmer shares ownership of these lands with the Township of Malahide.

2. Refer to 2026 Budget Process - Staff recommended referring this matter to the 2026 Budget process to allow Council to consider a dog park alongside other investments and to consider the impacts to taxation.

3. Don't Address the Dog Park - A dog park is identified as a long-term goal in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The dog park could set aside for now to allow higher priorities to advance. The additional time may allow for a better location or proposal for a park to materialize.

Council's Decision

Council decided to refer the dog park to the 2026 Budget process.