Guelph-Eramosa now has a bylaw governing uses and restrictions within township parks and recreational areas.
At the Oct. 19 meeting, council unanimously voted in a new bylaw to manage and regulate public parks and open spaces.
“There is an increasing need in the community to create rules and regulations around the activities that take place in our municipal parks and open spaces,” parks and recreation director Robin Milne wrote in a report to council.
“Currently, complaints are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and, in most scenarios, offending residents are requested to cease their actions and instructed not to repeat the offence in the future.
“The implementation of a parks bylaw would give the municipality an enforcement tool to effectively deal with serious, extreme or repeat offenders.”
Mayor Chris White asked if there were any fines associated with dogs in the new bylaw.
“They would be in line with our animal control bylaw that already is in existence currently,” Milne said.
White said he was concerned because there’s an increasing amount of dogs in Rockwood and he wants to ensure any fines associated with improper care are large enough that owners will heed them.
“I think it comes down to … whether or not you agree with dog parks, people need a place to walk their dog,” councillor Corey Woods said.
“If there isn’t a place to do it they take them to the park, so if they had a place to walk their dog, I don’t think we’d have this problem.”
White said council has an “obligation” to look into a possible dog park.
