HI all, 

I am sharing an update to the petition from last year - while they pushed from implementing changes last year - they are doing so now. 
There is a new petition at https://c.org/Xd7vftjtNY that you can see the issues. 

Pacific Spirit Regional Park is one of the last remaining spaces in Metro Vancouver where dogs and their owners can enjoy continuous, off-leash nature trails. However, a new "Dog Management" proposal is currently under review that threatens to dismantle the functionality of this park for thousands of residents.

The hearing is happening this Wednesday, Feb 4th. We need to act now to show Metro Vancouver that their current proposal is impractical, unsafe, and ignores the needs of the community.

The Problem: The proposed changes move away from "functional loops" and toward fragmented, "start-and-stop" trails. Under the new map, continuous off-leash movement is virtually eliminated.

This proposal:

Breaks Connectivity: There will no longer be an off-leash corridor connecting the north and south sides of the park. This forces dog owners to leash and unleash multiple times, which discourages compliance and ruins the flow of the park.
Eliminates Essential Loops: The removal of off-leash status from the Salish Trail and Council Trail means there are no longer meaningful loops. This causes congestion, forces backtracking on narrow trails, and increases the likelihood of conflict.
Creates Safety Hazards: By restricting traditional trails, dog walkers are being pushed onto the Powerline Trail—a high-traffic, shared-use bike corridor. Mixing off-leash dogs with fast-moving cyclists is a recipe for accidents.
Ignores Local Residents: The plan removes dog-friendly access for the most densely populated nearby communities, including Hampton Place and UBC Student Family Residence, effectively cutting off their primary walking routes.
Why This Matters: Off-leash exercise is not just a "luxury." For the 60% of Canadian households that own pets, these trails are essential for mental health, dog socialization, and reducing reactivity. A well-designed park should reflect how people actually use it. By removing logical loops and connectors, Metro Vancouver is making the park less safe and less accessible for everyone.

Our Demand: We urge the Metro Vancouver Board to reconsider the "Dog Management" proposal and restore logical off-leash loops and connectors. Specifically, we ask that:

Salish Trail and Council Trail remain off-leash to maintain east-west connectivity.
A continuous North-South off-leash corridor be maintained.
High-use residential access points for Hampton Place and UBC residents be restored to reflect real-world movement patterns.
Please sign this petition to protect our shared green spaces and ensure Pacific Spirit remains a functional, safe, and inclusive park for all members of our community.

Please consider emailing metro Vancouver to voice your concern. 
icentre@metrovancouver.org, Mike.redpath@metrovancouver.org, mayor@burnaby.ca, areaajen@gmail.com, areaaclaire@gmail.com, john.mcewen@anmore.com, Rebecca.bligh@vancouver.ca, Cau@richmond.ca, Pietro.calendino@burnaby.ca, Telke@pittmeadows.ca, Sferguson@tol.ca, Chodge@coquitlam.ca, Dkruger@delta.ca, Mlahti@portmoody.ca, mayor@bimbc.ca, muril@dnv.org, pennerd@portcoquitlam.ca, jross@belcarra.ca, rob.stutt@surrey.ca, jtan@mapleridge.ca, sthompson@westvancouver.ca, ken.sim@vancouver.ca, clrdominato@vancouver.ca, clrkirby-yung@vancouver.ca, clrklassen@vancouver.ca, clrzhou@vancouver.ca, peter.meiszner@vancouver.ca, Erin.Gorby@metrovancouver.org