Coquitlam to embark on consultation for off-leash dog park at Brookmere
A section of Brookmere Park is going to the dogs – but which section?
Noting the growing population of pups in the neighbourhood, Coquitlam is set to present two options to the public for an off-leash dog park at Brookmere.
While there are still details to be worked out, city staff generally favoured a larger and slightly more expensive dog park. Divided by a paved path, the 0.84-acre, $750,000 park would feature a 0.24-acre section specifically for small dogs.
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“We think it’s a good value for money,” explained Coquitlam manager of park planning and design Doron Fishman. “There’s been some pretty strong demand for this for a while.”
Besides offering the largest expanse, the site “makes effective use of underutilized lawn” along Austin Road.
Following community consultation, construction could begin next summer with the park dog-ready by late-2026, according to a city staff report.
With a price tag of $640,000, the 0.58-acre park would reserve a 0.1-acre plot for small dogs.
It’s important to reach out to the community about possible conflict, noted Coun. Matt Djonlic. However, Djonlic emphasized he didn’t want to see the project “bogged down” in an extended period of consultation.
“There’s a bit of a dog park desert in the southwest, and given the amount of density that we’re going to be seeing in the Lougheed area, you’re going to be seeing more people with dogs,” he said.
While he raised a concern about baseball players potentially sending long fly balls into the dog park, Coun. Steve Kim was enthusiastic about the plan.
“As uncle to Piper and Kirby, two incredible labradoodles, it’s great to see.”
The area is currently served with dog parks at Miller and Mundy parks. While the city isn’t considering a dog park at Cottonwood Park in the short-term, the idea could be realized during a future development.
Adding an off-leash area to Cottonwood Park would be complicated by: “the complexity of tenant relocation, demolition . . . and the inability to provide separate large and small dog areas,” the city staff report stated.
The city has earmarked $750,000 for Brookmere Park improvements that could help pay for the dog park.
The city would also likely pay between $15,000 and $22,000 in annual operating costs.
An off-leash dog area at Fraser Mills is set to be added to the neighbourhood in late-2027.
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