Town of St. Paul holds open house to decide dog park location

On July 9, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., the town of St. Paul will host an open house at the Recreation Centre to determine the location for a proposed dog park. This event aims to gather public input on creating a space where residents and their dogs can socialize, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors.  

Mayor Maureen Miller highlighted that the dog park initiative began about six years ago after a survey revealed strong community interest in recreational and outdoor activities. One of the primary requests was to provide a dog park. However, the project faces several challenges including securing construction funding, managing operational costs, and selecting an appropriate site.  

The town is actively seeking public input to address these issues. Residents who cannot attend the open house can share their views online at https://www.stpaul.ca/dogparkopenhouse/ .  

It was noted that after initial public engagement, the options have been narrowed down to Kendelstick Park and Elks Park. The open house will provide further public feedback before a final decision is made. 

Funding for the project depends on a successful grant application to the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP), a provincial grant offering up to $125,000 for upgrading, expanding, purchasing, or building public-use community facilities. The town does not have a surplus of funds to create new facilities and relies on government funding.