Langdon residents are upset that Rocky View County (RVC) is considering developing an off-leash dog park for the hamlet on the same joint-use lands a recreation centre and junior-senior high school are slated to be built by 2024.
“People are really upset about this, and the people upset about it are actually dog owners,” said Chrissy Craig, chair of the Langdon Community Association. “Myself, I have a dog and go to a dog park in [Calgary] at least twice or three times a week. I would love a dog park out here, but I don’t want it in place of a rec centre – we need a rec centre more than we need a dog park.”
According to Craig, at least five acres are necessary to build an adequate regional rec facility. With the amount of space Langdon’s new junior-senior high school and parking lot will take up, she said a three-acre dog park – the size she claims RVC is proposing – would take away much of the space set aside for the rec centre.
“And if we don’t build it on this site, we don’t have a piece of land in town that’s big enough for a rec centre,” she said.
“And honestly, we don’t have a leash bylaw in Langdon, so technically, the whole town is a dog park, because you don’t have to have your dog on a leash anyway.”
Craig said Langdon residents have advocated for a regional recreation centre to be built on the serviced lands situated along Railway Avenue West for nearly two decades.
“We’ve been working on a recreation facility or designing this land since it was bought 17 years ago, with the thought it would be a future site for recreation,” she said.
“This is something that has been worked on for so many years, is very much needed in the community and has been the vision for this land.”
The off-leash park will be discussed by RVC council at a regular meeting Sept. 1. The meeting agenda includes a budget adjustment of $88,600 for the park which will come from the Langdon Park Fund.
According to the agenda report, “Given the density and urban nature of Langdon, the vision for the dog park was for it to be centrally located and easily accessible, allowing residents to safely use it throughout the year. Based on discussions with the local developer and the availability of suitable lands within the hamlet, administration is recommending the off-leash dog park be located on the joint-use lands.”
The report went on to say the joint-use lands were identified as a potential site given their location, access to sidewalks and parking, space availability and nearby complementary land uses.
“Furthermore, design details for the new Langdon high school and quad ball diamond complex have been established, providing more information on the availability of developable space within the site,” the report stated.
Craig said Langdon residents are also speaking out because of the dog park’s proposed price tag and the fact the funding would be sourced from Langdon taxes. According to RVC, site preparations require an additional cost of $88,600, meaning the park’s total budget would be roughly $133,000.
While the County approved $45,000 in funds in 2019 for the construction of an off-leash area in Langdon Park, Craig said nearby residents pushed back when they learned of the proposed location.
“When the community found out it was going to be in Langdon Park, residents were quite upset because it was beside an elementary school, backing onto houses and would be taking over one of the facilities we have in town – a ball diamond,” Craig said.
RVC's agenda report stated that, in reviewing alternative locations, the County reached out to the developer of the Bridges of Langdon to see if they would be able to locate a dog park on their lands. The parcel of undeveloped land was deemed unsuitable due to a lack of servicing.
“Further discussions with this developer have revealed the intent was to simply install fencing within an undeveloped portion of their lands, creating a temporary, rural, off-leash area,” the report stated. “Upon further review, the proposal posed accessibility, operational and functional challenges given the lack of servicing, access and parking on the site.”
A dog park at that location would also eventually need to be removed or relocated, the report stated.
Deputy Reeve Al Schule, the area councillor, said there is demand in the hamlet for both a recreation centre and an off-leash park. He added he would have to hear more at the Sept. 1 council meeting before deciding whether or not the joint-use lands are a good location for the park, though he acknowledged there has been plenty of opposition to the idea from Langdon residents.
“Personally, I would like to see it go in a location where we could possibly get a developer to partially contribute lands and funds,” he said. “At this point in time, I do have a lot of issues with the amount of money and where it’s coming from.”
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
