Granville Park dog off-leash area

The two new fenced dog off-leash areas at Granville Park are complete and open to the public. The park now features one main off-leash area for all dogs and a smaller off-leash space for small and/or shy dogs.

Based on feedback from round 2 engagement, minor changes have been made to the final concept for the new dog off-leash areas (OLAs) at Granville Park.

• The surfacing material for the OLAs will be engineered wood fibre (EWF), a type of woodchip commonly used in playgrounds. EWF is a durable material that does not splinter, is considered universally accessible, provides good drainage, and will be soft on dog paws.
• The OLA fence on the east side will move slightly west to allow space between it and the tennis court fence.
• In addition, a visual barrier will be provided between the OLA and the tennis court.
• We are exploring options to provide a drinking fountain with a dog bowl

The Round 2 engagement summary is now available. Round 2 of public engagement ran from April 27-May 18 and included a draft concept design that was shaped by the feedback from the first round of engagement. Read the round 2 engagement summary to learn about what we heard.

Take a look at the round 2 engagement boards to see how your feedback from the first round of engagement has shaped the design concept.

In our first round of engagement, we heard from you on topics including park use and current conditions. Take a look at the engagement summary from round 1.

Granville Park is a unique and vibrant community space near the borders of the Fairview, Kitsilano, and Shaughnessy neighborhoods. Pine Street divides the park into two distinct areas - west and east. The Granville Children’s Park is located west of Pine St. and has a long, linear, lawn with a small playground. The park area east of Pine St. has a large lawn that supports informal recreational activities.

The People, Parks and Dogs Strategy identified the importance of providing off-leash areas (OLAs) within a 15-minute walk for most residents. An OLA at Granville Park will increase access for dog off-leash activity in two priority neighbourhoods that are currently underserved. Granville Park has suitable space and amenities that a fenced off-leash area could be added while maintaining space for other activities.

The maps below show how much of the underserved area can be serviced by off-leash areas at both Granville and Heather Parks.

The People, Parks & Dogs Strategy (2017) provides a framework to deliver well-planned and designed parks for people with and without dogs. The recommendations from the strategy fall into four key themes – access, design, stewardship and enforcement. Through mapping and analysis, the strategy identified areas of Vancouver that are deficient in off-leash area access as well as six neighbourhoods to be prioritized for new and renewed off-leash spaces. With the guidance of the strategy, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is committed to providing equitable and improved access to OLAs across the city.

Public engagement is an important part in implementing the recommendations of the strategy. Input from all park users will help to ensure the successful renewal of this well-used amenity, while supporting a safe and comfortable experience for all park users, with and without dogs.