Pop-Up Dog Parks
Markham Off-Leash Dog Area Open House on May 21st at Markham Civic Centre
May 7th, 2024
Hello, Markham residents! Are you interested in learning about the future of Markham’s off-leash dog areas? Do you want to have your voice heard?
On May 21st at Markham Civic Centre in the Canada Room and Great Hall, there will be an open house about Markham’s Off-Leash Dog Area Policy and Implementation Plan.
The session will focus on:
1. Project scope
2. Work completed to date
3. What we have heard and key issues
4. Opportunities and challenges
5. How to get involved and provide input
6. Next steps
This session will allow Markham residents to provide feedback on key issues and opportunities for Markham’s off-leash dog areas based on the research gathered for the Policy and Implementation Plan.
We are paws-itively excited to see you all there!
Where: Markham Civic Centre in the Canada Room and Great Hall
Address: 101 Town Centre Blvd, Markham, ON L3R 9W3
When: May 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Weather Update
April 10th, 2024
Due to rain, today and tomorrow's pop-up dog park consultations have been rescheduled!
Cornell Community Park (319 William Forster Road) will now be on Monday, April 15 from 11 AM to 1 PM
Berczy Park South (432 Wilfred Murison Avenue) will now be on Tuesday, April 16 from 7 to 9 AM.
Un-leash Your Ideas at the Pop-up Dog Park Consultations
Coming to a Dog Off-Leash Area Near You!
April 4th, 2024
Attention, Markham residents! Are you a tail-wagging dog owner or a dog lover? We want to hear from you! Join us for our Pop-Up Dog Park Consultations next week, held at the listed off-leash dog areas in Markham.
Have the chance to share your paw-some thoughts about Markham's dog off-leash areas, engage with interested members of your community, and learn more about Markham's Off-Leash Dog Area Policy and Implementation Plan.
Help us create a dog-friendly community that works for everyone. Don't miss this opportunity to have your bark heard!
The City of Markham is pleased to announce the 2023 Pop-up Off-Leash Dog Area Pilot Program!
We are excited to introduce this special pilot program that will create short-term locations for off-leash dog areas where dogs can play, exercise, and socialize. The first priority is that these Pop-Up Dog Parks are safe for all users.
Reminder: All dog owners should take a moment to become familiar with the City of Markham's Off-Leash Dog Park Code of Conduct and the Dog Owners Liability Act.
Wildlife Alert: Please read the wildlife alert regarding foxes and coyotes.
Winter Update: Please read the winter update regarding pathway maintenance.
Visiting a Pop-Up Dog Park right now?
Please take the Pop-Up Dog Park Survey:
During the pilot program, we want to hear from you! Your feedback is valuable in helping us make improvements, as we work to better understand what works best for you and your dog.
We encourage residents to create and/or log into your YourVoiceMarkham.ca account so you can complete the survey, and to learn more about this program. Residents are encouraged to fill out a survey each time they visit a Pop-Up Dog Park. Please note this survey is only for the Pop-Up Dog Parks (and not for existing off-leash dog areas).
As the pilot program progresses, Parks Planning, Operations, Animal Services, and your local Councillors will be monitoring the program to see how it's going. Parks Planning will review the lessons learned from this pilot program, which will then be used to develop a long-term plan for Off-Leash Dog Areas in Markham.
The purpose of the program is to give Markham residents more access to off-leash dog parks. We understand that dogs need space to exercise and have fun, and we want to provide that in a safe and controlled environment.
At each pilot site, we will set up special fencing to enclose the off-leash area. For the currently proposed pilot sites, there will be a separate area for small dogs and a separate area for large dogs. There will be a designated entrance area with double gates, signs to guide you, and garbage bins to help keep the area clean. Please do your part to help keep Markham beautiful.
Starting in the Summer of 2023, we will be setting up eight pilot sites across the City. Each site will be in a different ward, so there will be a convenient location for dog owners in every part of Markham. The Pop-Up Dog Parks selected for the pilot program include:
Ward - Pop-Up Dog Park | Address | Description | Amenities | Status |
Ward 1 - Cricklewood Park | Located east of Yonge St and intended to service residents of high-rise buildings and homes within walking distance. |
| Opened: September 11, 2023 | |
Ward 2 - Victoria Square Park | Located east of the Victoria Square Playground/Splash-pad. Closest intersection is Reflection Rd & Victoria Square Blvd. |
| Opened: September 13, 2023 | |
Ward 3 - Monarch Park | Located north of the baseball diamond and soccer field. |
| Opened: September 18, 2023 | |
Ward 4 - Mintleaf Park | Located north of the playground. Not located on School Property. |
| Opened: September 8, 2023 | |
Ward 5 - Blodwen Davies Park | Located east of Blodwen Davies Park playground and intended to service residents of homes within walking distance. |
| Opened: September 13, 2023 | |
Ward 6 - Berczy Park South | Located north of gazebo and south of Bur Oak Ave. |
| Opened: September 18, 2023 | |
Ward 7 - Aaniin Community Centre Park | Located east of the Aaniin Community Centre. Please note Dogs are not permitted inside the community centre. |
| Opened: September 8, 2023 | |
Ward 8 - Ada Mackenzie Park | Located east of parking lot and south of shade structure. |
| Opened: September 15, 2023 |
The Pop-Up Dog Parks are open between the hours of 6 AM and 11 PM. Dog Parks are open every day of the week unless closed for maintenance.
Parks Planning staff have chosen these pilot sites carefully based on a site selection criteria to make the spaces dog-friendly. By testing these locations, we can determine if they will be suitable for permanent off-leash facilities in the future.
We hope you enjoy the 2023 Pop-up Off-Leash Dog Area Pilot Program. It's an exciting opportunity to provide more space for dogs to play and explore safely. Thank you for being a part of making Markham a dog-friendly city!
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Keeping Markham Beautiful
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This coffee cup was found stuck on the inside of a Pop-Up Dog Park fence.
Clean public spaces, sidewalks and streets keep Markham beautiful. It's everyone's responsibility to make sure our public spaces stay this way. Here at the City of Markham, we are doing our part by ensuring that there are litter receptacles placed in all public spaces.
Do your part – put your waste in the right place!
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Survey Says...
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In the first month of the 2023 Pop-up Off-Leash Dog Area Pilot Program over 315 survey responses have been submitted! These contributions from residents across the City have provided valuable insights in shaping our community and how we plan Pop-Up Dog Parks.
So, what does the survey say? Well, we know that almost 75% of residents took a healthy mode of transportation to arrive at the Pop-Up Dog Parks - Walking!
By having more parks across the City, we can reduce our dependency on vehicles to access parks/natural spaces, and this may help reduce pollution (in the form of greenhouse gases) while at the same time promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Reminder that the survey is open between Summer 2023 to Spring 2024. We encourage you to take the Pop-Up Dog Parks Survey every time you visit a Pop-Up Dog Park (once per visit).
Thank you for being a part of making Markham a dog-friendly city!
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Safe Shared Spaces
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The City of Markham’s Pop-Up Dog Parks are intended to provide residents with safe areas where dogs can play, exercise, and socialize. As we prioritize the safety and well-being of all community members, Animal Services emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy for off-leash dogs outside designated areas. This is to allow everyone to enjoy the shared park spaces together and minimize potential for conflicts between dog owners and the broader community. By adhering to leash regulations, residents contribute to a positive experience for everyone, fostering a community that is not only pet-friendly but also respectful of shared spaces. We appreciate the cooperation of all residents in making Markham a dog-friendly city!
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Welcome Fall - Survey Reminder
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The first day of Fall was September 22, 2023 and Parks Planning Staff are monitoring the Pop-Up Dog Parks as the seasons change. Items such as groundcover quality, fences, gates, and more are reviewed by City staff.
Reminder that your feedback on the Pop-up Dog Parks is very important. We encourage you to take the Pop-Up Dog Parks Survey every time you visit a Pop-Up Dog Park (once per visit). This will help us understand how many residents are using the Pop-Up Dog Parks.
Be sure to register for a YourVoiceMarkham.ca account to ensure that your voice is heard and that your valuable insights contribute to shaping our community.
Registered users allows Parks Planning Staff to follow up with participants for clarifications, additional input, or to inform them about the outcomes of the survey, fostering community engagement and keeping residents informed about developments related to the 2023 Pop-up Off-Leash Dog Area Pilot Program. Overall, this registration process helps guarantee the integrity of the survey, allows for multiple submissions, and enhances community input for decision-making.
Thank you for being a part of making Markham a dog-friendly city!
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Measuring Success
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The City of Markham's 2023 Pop-up Off-Leash Dog Area Pilot Program has created eight short-term locations for off-leash dog areas where dogs can play, exercise, and socialize! Parks Planning Staff are monitoring community feedback and Pop-Up Dog Parks beteen Summer 2023 to Spring 2024.
We encourage you to take the Pop-Up Dog Parks Survey every time you visit a Pop-Up Dog Park (once per visit). This will help us understand how many residents are using the Pop-Up Dog Parks.
Thank you for being a part of making Markham a dog-friendly city!
