Sidney is one step closer to adding a new off-leash dog park in the heart of town—an amenity that many local pet owners have long been asking for.
At a council meeting last week, Sidney councillors gave three readings to a bylaw amendment that would prohibit dogs from hard-surfaced sport courts such as tennis courts, as well as from playgrounds, picnic areas, and zones with outdoor exercise equipment.
The changes come in response to resident complaints, particularly regarding waste left behind and the challenges of shared use in these increasingly busy spaces.
But as council moves to limit where dogs can go, they’re also looking at where dogs should go.
To address the need for more off-leash space—especially on the east side of Sidney—council is considering a fenced dog enclosure in Iroquois Park.
The proposed location would sit between the boat trailer parking lot and the tennis courts and could include designated areas for small and large dogs alike.
“Sidney’s downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods are becoming more densely populated, and this underused section of Iroquois Park offers a walkable, central space that doesn’t back onto residential yards,” reads a staff report presented by Director of Engineering Jenn Clary.
A key concern with previous off-leash site options was noise and fence aggression between dogs in parks and neighbouring private yards.
The town’s only existing off-leash area is located at Peter Grant Park, on the town’s western edge.
While council broadly supported the new proposal, not everyone was on board.
Councillor Terri O’Keeffe opposed using Iroquois Park for an off-leash space, citing its proximity to a popular duck pond and green space where people often go for a peaceful break.
“I’m concerned about the impact of a dog area in close proximity,” she said, also expressing concern about the timing and cost. “We had a 10 per cent tax increase this past year… I just think that there are other things that are a bigger priority.”
Despite her objections, the motion passed, and staff will now seek public input on the proposed dog park between mid-August and mid-September. The proposal would be considered during the town’s 2026 capital budget deliberations.
More details about public consultation process will be released in August.
If approved, the park would become Sidney’s first centrally located, fully fenced dog enclosure and may set the groundwork for similar future spaces in town.
