In response to safety incidents, user conflicts, complaints, and ecological impacts, Metro Vancouver is reviewing the dog management program at Pacific Spirit Regional Park. This review will assess and seek to make improvements to the signage, trail designations, and public education and bylaw enforcement program.
With more than 55 kilometers of trails located within 860 hectares of lush West Coast rainforest, Pacific Spirit Regional Park is a popular destination for walkers, runners, cyclists, equestrians and dog walkers – of all ages.
The park is unique in that approximately 65 per cent of the trail system is designated as “leash optional.” Dogs are permitted to be without a leash, but must be under control at all times, and must remain on the trail and out of streams, creeks, ponds, and wetlands.
What is being reviewed
Metro Vancouver is analyzing data that includes:
- Calls-for-service from the public, received by Metro Vancouver Regional Parks
- Bylaw warnings and tickets issued by park rangers, and park incident reports
- Visitor-use data from monitoring on all park trails
- Natural resource management monitoring data and research studies regarding dog impacts at the park
- Staff observations
Safety incidents, complaints and user conflicts include:
- Injuries to park visitors, such as broken bones and dog bites that require stitches
- Joggers, runners, walkers (including seniors and young children), and cyclists being chased or knocked down
- Aggressive behaviour (park visitors being startled, barked at, lunged at, jumped on, nipped and scratched)
- Verbal altercations and aggressive behaviour between park users
- Dogs being bitten or injured
- Fighting between dogs
- Dog feces not picked up (i.e. left along the trail or discarded into the forest)
Next steps
Based on the review, Metro Vancouver will develop and implement a phase one plan in 2025, for a pilot period. Monitoring will continue during 2025.
Metro Vancouver Regional Parks will be engaging with xʷməθkʷəýəḿ First Nation, Electoral Area A (University Endowment Lands) residents, Pacific Spirit Park Society, CTS Youth Society, BC Mobility and Opportunity Society, and those who hold a Commercial Dog Walking permit for Pacific Spirit Regional Park.