Yesterday I went to the park with my mom to walk my dog. The few times that I've been there during rush hour (right before or after the 9-5 grind), I have been surprised to find an awesome community of dog walkers. This group hangs out twice a day, knows the neighbourhood gossip, and is quite friendly to new comers. They water the trees, pick up garbage, and keep the park free and safe. The dog walkers all have friendly dogs, who are only interested in playing with each other. They are only in the park at certain hours, and are perfectly willing to leash their dogs when a person feels threatened. Unfortunately not everyone likes the dog walkers.

There are a few concerned citizens that find this community group a menace. A few days ago a letter was posted on the tree, addressing their so-callled vagrant activities. Their accused crime; leaving their dogs off the leash. The unsigned letter writer expressed their concern that the park was unsafe to old people and children. This is not a new problem in the city, and it has recently received attention from City Hall where they had a record breaking public consultation, whose results "are scheduled to go forward to the City’s Parks and Environment Committee at its July 4, 2007 meeting, and pending the outcome, onto City Council for endorsement at its meeting of July 16, 2007."

Upon receiving this letter the dog walkers of my local park suddenly became mobilized as a community group. People were talking about strategies! Community events! Press releases! It was really cool to witness my neighbourhood actually coming together. Unfortunately, the dog walkers' response to the opposition party was met with a call to the cops. No tickets were issued, but it stirred more strategizing. What will happen next? Will dog owners rebel and face possible legal action? Will they throw a BBQ? There has been talk of a potential Dog In (think of the Love Ins of the 60s) in the works. Either way something big is going to happen. The dog walkers are definitely a neighbourhood political force not to be reckoned with!

To read more about the People, Dogs, and Parks campaign check out their website here.


Update

After a great talk with Ms. Michelle from Youth Action Network, I had a few revelations. Michelle probed me to question the power relationships behind the conflict. While the park complainer signed their letter anonymously, one can draw some conclusions based on the identities of the dog walkers, and how that shapes that public space. The dog walkers are majority white folks, and most often men. The letter writer expressed her concern for elderly and children using the park, but one thing I have often noticed when walking my puppy is that many new immigrants in my area are afraid of dogs. Elderly, children, and those who are scared of dogs have the right to park space too.

I think what our neighbourhood really needs is an off leash area. The closest one from my house is a 30 minute walk away. There are 3 different parks close walking distance from my house, and none of them have official off-leash areas. Also there is the Beltline trail, which is a favorite for dogs and dog walkers to go off leash. I feel like the Beltline has got to be leash free, but maybe if we were to have one specific park area, that would help avoid further problems.

.... just some new thoughts.