A new off-leash area in Giovanni Caboto Park

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Consultation has concluded

Help inform the design of a new off-leash area – a secure, fenced-in space for pets to safely exercise, socialize and roam free – in Giovanni Caboto Park (75 Matthew Dr.). 

The City of Vaughan recognizes the value off-leash dog areas bring to dogs and their families. In June 2021, Council endorsed the Local Off-leash Dog Area Strategy (PDF), which identified several locations for new off-leash dog areas. Following extensive public consultation, four local off-leash dog parks have been constructed and are open to the public in Mackenzie Glen District Park, Matthew District Park, Legion Park and Sugar Bush Heritage Park.

Construction of the off-leash area in Chancellor District Park was scheduled to begin in the summer of 2022. However, following additional consultation with the surrounding residents in August 2022, Vaughan Council passed a resolution to review alternative locations in the community, including Giovanni Caboto Park.


What makes Giovann Caboto Park a good location for an off-leash dog area?

The Local Off-leash Dog Area Strategy includes several criteria used to evaluate potential sites for off-leash areas, including ease of access and the number of residents served; adherence to current policies and regulations; safety and security; land availability; proximity to residential areas, children’s play spaces, outdoor sports fields and environmentally sensitive areas; and the size of the area and site characteristics (e.g. drainage, grading, vegetation, microclimate).

City staff reviewed several parks within the community, including Jersey Creek Park, Blue Willow and Giovanni Caboto Park. Giovanni Caboto scored the highest, ranking particularly high on the criteria related to public opinion; proximity to residential areas, sidewalks and parking; and design (e.g. size of off-leash area that can be accommodated and grading). Map of Giovanni Caboto Park and the surrounding neighbourhood, showing the general location of the new fenced-in off-leash area in the centre of the park just south of the shared tennis/pickleball court, north of the baseball diamond, east of the parking lot and west of the playground.

The City recommends placing the new fenced-in, designated off-leash area in the centre of the park. The centre of the park is the best location as it:

  • has the least impact on existing amenities, including the three playground areas, soccer fields, baseball diamond, shared tennis/pickleball courts and bocce courts. 
  • reduces sightlines and mitigates potential impacts to adjacent residents.
  • is a large enough space to properly accommodate separate large- and small-breed dog areas.
  • is adjacent to the existing parking lot and may be easily accessed by driving, biking or walking. 

Community safety is paramount. City staff have proposed solutions to help address potential community concerns regarding the new off-leash area’s proximity to the existing playground, as described in the survey below.


GET INVOLVED!

Engagement on the Giovanni Caboto Park off-leash dog area is now closed.

From Tuesday, Jan. 17 to Tuesday, Feb. 7, the City invited the community to review site options, weigh in on trade-offs and share their thoughts. 

Thank you to those who participated! Your feedback will help the City determine the final design and configuration of the new local off-leash area in Giovanni Caboto Park.

Help inform the design of a new off-leash area – a secure, fenced-in space for pets to safely exercise, socialize and roam free – in Giovanni Caboto Park (75 Matthew Dr.). 

The City of Vaughan recognizes the value off-leash dog areas bring to dogs and their families. In June 2021, Council endorsed the Local Off-leash Dog Area Strategy (PDF), which identified several locations for new off-leash dog areas. Following extensive public consultation, four local off-leash dog parks have been constructed and are open to the public in Mackenzie Glen District Park, Matthew District Park, Legion Park and Sugar Bush Heritage Park.

Construction of the off-leash area in Chancellor District Park was scheduled to begin in the summer of 2022. However, following additional consultation with the surrounding residents in August 2022, Vaughan Council passed a resolution to review alternative locations in the community, including Giovanni Caboto Park.


What makes Giovann Caboto Park a good location for an off-leash dog area?

The Local Off-leash Dog Area Strategy includes several criteria used to evaluate potential sites for off-leash areas, including ease of access and the number of residents served; adherence to current policies and regulations; safety and security; land availability; proximity to residential areas, children’s play spaces, outdoor sports fields and environmentally sensitive areas; and the size of the area and site characteristics (e.g. drainage, grading, vegetation, microclimate).

City staff reviewed several parks within the community, including Jersey Creek Park, Blue Willow and Giovanni Caboto Park. Giovanni Caboto scored the highest, ranking particularly high on the criteria related to public opinion; proximity to residential areas, sidewalks and parking; and design (e.g. size of off-leash area that can be accommodated and grading). Map of Giovanni Caboto Park and the surrounding neighbourhood, showing the general location of the new fenced-in off-leash area in the centre of the park just south of the shared tennis/pickleball court, north of the baseball diamond, east of the parking lot and west of the playground.

The City recommends placing the new fenced-in, designated off-leash area in the centre of the park. The centre of the park is the best location as it:

  • has the least impact on existing amenities, including the three playground areas, soccer fields, baseball diamond, shared tennis/pickleball courts and bocce courts. 
  • reduces sightlines and mitigates potential impacts to adjacent residents.
  • is a large enough space to properly accommodate separate large- and small-breed dog areas.
  • is adjacent to the existing parking lot and may be easily accessed by driving, biking or walking. 

Community safety is paramount. City staff have proposed solutions to help address potential community concerns regarding the new off-leash area’s proximity to the existing playground, as described in the survey below.


GET INVOLVED!

Engagement on the Giovanni Caboto Park off-leash dog area is now closed.

From Tuesday, Jan. 17 to Tuesday, Feb. 7, the City invited the community to review site options, weigh in on trade-offs and share their thoughts. 

Thank you to those who participated! Your feedback will help the City determine the final design and configuration of the new local off-leash area in Giovanni Caboto Park.

Consultation has concluded

  • Take the Giovanni Caboto Park Off-Leash Dog Area Survey

    Share Take the Giovanni Caboto Park Off-Leash Dog Area Survey on Facebook Share Take the Giovanni Caboto Park Off-Leash Dog Area Survey on Twitter Share Take the Giovanni Caboto Park Off-Leash Dog Area Survey on Linkedin Email Take the Giovanni Caboto Park Off-Leash Dog Area Survey link

    The Giovanni Caboto Park Off-Leash Dog Area Survey is now closed.

    The purpose of this survey is to collect community feedback on the design of a new off-leash dog area in Giovanni Caboto Park.

    In this survey, you will be asked to review site options, weigh in on trade-offs and share your thoughts.

    This survey will take approximately ten minutes to complete and will be available until Tuesday, Feb. 7. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Celene Mariano, Project Manager, Parks and Open Space Planning at dogpark@vaughan.ca.

    For more information about the proposed Giovanni Caboto Park Off-Leash Dog Area, visit vaughan.ca/DogPark.