Accessibility in Dog Off-Leash Areas

The Public Gallery wrote no story on this item. What follows is the city’s own record of what happened to it, as filed: nothing on this page is summarised or scored by us.

The decision

2019-06-04 · Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee · referred

As filed

The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee: 1. Referred the item to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation with the request to: a. consider a study on the feasibility of implementing artificial turf or other solutions in all dog off leash areas in Toronto, to improve accessibility; and b. consider accessible signage at dog off leash areas to indicate any inaccessible elements and any potential hazards; and to post the information online; and c.

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provide an update to a future meeting of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

One of my constituents, who is visually impaired and uses a cane, took a serious fall while using the Dog Off Leash Area (DOLA) at Greenwood Park. My constituent was understandably hesitant to use the DOLA and was then given a ticket by the City for having her dog off-leash in the park. This unfortunate incident brought to my attention the need for a review of accessibility standards for Dog Off Leash Areas in city parks.

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The Rick Hansen Foundation describes pea gravel surfaces as inaccessible and calls for them to be replaced in play surfaces. A 2005 Safe Kids Canada report notes pea gravel surfaces "can be hard to walk on and cannot be used with wheelchairs or other mobility aides." I also have a constituent using the same dog park who is in a wheelchair and he does not feel that the concrete strip along the south side of the fence gives him the access he needs. In April, City Council approved a plan to redo the DOLA with artificial turf, bringing it in line with accessibility standards from other cities. I am sure this issue goes beyond Greenwood and impacts resident and DOLA's across Toronto. As you are a citizen group giving advice to Council I wanted to bring this matter to your attention. I am sure you will be interested in the outcome of the renewed surface of the dog park.

On the record