False Creek Dog Park at Charleson Park: Big Changes Coming

This in an emotionally loaded topic I know. I here that big changes could be coming to the False Creek Dog Park / Off-Leash Area at Charleson Park. The City's Animal Control SWAT team (okay there are no guns but there do drive a big scary looking van and get to drive it in the park) has been out in Charleson Park a few times recently and word is that a variety of changes are coming to the off-leash area of the park.

The biggest bone of the contention is the waterfall area. Many families with children feel this area has been made almost unusable for them by dog's, or more specifically by dogs that are not, or cannot, be controlled by their owners. Dogs may be banned from the waterfall area all the summer and signage will be improved / enlarged. Does anyone read those signs? 

The city is also looking to step up enforcement. There are way too many dogs arriving at the off-leash area (it is not a dog park, it an area of the public park where dogs are allow off leash). This is especially disconcerting considering that all those arriving from west of the park must walk along either a shared-use cycling path (the seawall) or the sidewalk (right beside the road) and then many will pass right by the school playground (full of children).

The City of Vancouver is considering a overhauling it's dog licencing and enforcement program with the hope of greatly increasing the number of dogs who are licenced and compliance with the related by-laws. It all sounds like less poop on my shoes to me.

I think dogs are great and I welcome them to False Creek, but they need to be leashed unless they are in the off-leash areas and even then they need to be well trained enough to that their owners can control them verbally. Dogs should not be unleashed on the seawall (a great hazard to bike riders among others) or around children's schools and playgrounds.