Saskatoon dog lovers bite back as city considers changes to Silverwood off-leash park

A dog lover is fighting back in Saskatoon, urging bureaucrats at city hall to keep their paws off the Silverwood off-leash dog park.

It is just a really happy place to walk.- Hayley Hesseln

Hayley Hesseln, who has four dogs at home, doesn't like what she sees happening at city hall.

"It appears that they want to fence all the areas that have a paved path," Hesseln said in an interview with CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning.

City answering complaints about safety 

The city is reviewing some public complaints about safety along the paved trails that run through Silverwood park, and is working on options to address those concerns. Some pedestrians and cyclists worry about having to deal with dogs running freely there. 

Hesseln has little sympathy.  

"There are an infinite number of locations where dog 'dislikers', 'haters'  — whatever you want to call them — can go," she said.

The way Hesseln sees it, the city's agenda is to push dog walkers down the hill at the park, and fence off the paved trails so cherished by runners, walkers and cyclists.

"It's quite muddy and there is the beach area but it is generally all the wooded areas, so none of the upper part that's paved. Where is it going to end?" she asked.  

The city has hosted one open house discussion on the park, and reports suggested that only one person who wants the paved paths fenced off attended, amid a crowd packed with dog lovers.

Hesseln said the number of dog lovers is growing, and they value the off-leash park: "It's a vibrant community of people; it is just a really happy place to walk."

The city said that once it has alternative plans in place for the park it will host another open house for public feedback sometime in the fall.