Update: According to Metro Vancouver there are no current changes happening. However, that is misleading as they are currently reviewing the off-leash policy and looking to implement changes in Summer 2025. I encourage you to leave comments on other suggestions I could include. The battle is not yet won, not until the review process is over and so we have to spread awareness to ensure our voice is heard. 

I hope we can find a balanced solution that preserves the park's unique offerings for everyone.

I also spoke with Richard Wallis at Metro Vancouver and the update can be found here. Based on that I have edited the petition and moved the Recommendations section here which I will ensure is reviewed by Metro Vancouver before any changes are implemented:  

• Ensuring better signage along with leash status only changing at clear intersections. This would empower users to make informed decisions about which routes they are comfortable on. Currently, it is not clear when off-leash trails become on-leash.
• Adding gates at trail exits and entrances, including intersections, indicating leash status (for example the gate at the intersection of Huckleberry and Sasamat Trail). This would empower users to make informed decisions about which routes they are comfortable on.
• Updating maps to be clearer and increasing the number of maps throughout the forest. This would empower users to make informed decisions about which routes they are comfortable on.
• Improved Enforcement so that the few 'bad' apples do not make the rest of the dog community pay for their behaviour.  
• Public education campaign on how to 'co-exist' with off-leash dogs on trails. 
• Creating a fully on-leash loop to allow users who do not wish to encounter off-leash dogs. This is useful for both dog owners who have nervous and cautious dogs, as well as runners, cyclists, and the general public. We would recommend that this is implemented in both the northern and southern sections of the park, for the safety, security, and wellbeing of ALL park users.

Please also consider contacting Metro Vancouver directly at icentre@metrovancouver.org with what you think the proposed changes should be, if any. 

Original Petition below: 

This Petition is in opposition to the proposed changes to make a large part of Pacific Spirit Regional Park (PSRP) into on-leash areas which can be found here. As frequent users of PSRP, we are distressed to read about the proposed solution to safety incidents, user conflicts, complaints, and ecological impacts in PSRP that was presented by Dr. Annie Cierna to the Regional Parks Committee Meeting on Feb 5 2025. We implore a full consultation is conducted before any pilot programs are implemented, as the proposed solution could affect over one-third of Metro Vancouver’s population (estimates suggest that 33%-40% of households in the area own a dog). 

The proposed solution, of the trails south of West 16th Avenue becoming leash-required only, with the northern portion of the park becoming leash-optional is too simplistic and not thoroughly thought through, especially as there are already sections of the park where dogs are prohibited (area between West 16th and West 10th Avenues on the weekends). 

It is also important to note that making all trails on-leash will not prevent issues with aggressive dogs and disrespectful owners. Responsible ownership and proper training are key factors, and a blanket on-leash policy does not address these underlying concerns. All dog owners should not suffer for the behavior of a few and thus we propose better enforcement and stricter action for breaking rules by ‘bad’ owners so that the millions who are responsible owners do not pay the price. 

Below are details of our main issues with the proposed plan below:

1. Good vs. bad experiences: The park welcomes approximately 4 million annual visitors, with over 1 million coming specifically for dog walking. The current mix of on-leash and off-leash areas is unmatched in Vancouver and contributes to a 93% visitor satisfaction rate and 90% park safety rating. Statistically speaking, the number of good vs. bad interactions are not significant enough to warrant the proposed changes. According to Metro Vancouver’s own data, roughly 36% of annual visitors (360,000) to the park are from dogs. The proposed leash-optional area is roughly 1.5 sq. km whilst the proposed leash-required zone is roughly 5 sq. km. The map presented by Dr. Cierna erroneously includes the golf course, where dogs are not allowed. 
2. Overcrowding: Potentially relegating over a third of visitors to less than a quarter of the park’s area is neither equal nor equitable, and thus is in direct conflict with Metro Vancouver’s Accessibility Plan. Such a plan will result in ‘over-crowding’ and thus result in many more reports and conflicts between dogs and humans. 
3. Accessibility issues for both dog owners and non-dog owners alike:
   1. Dog-Owners: The northern portion of the park is far less accessible by car. There are fewer entrances to the northern portion of the park (9 entrances) compared with the trails south of West 16th Avenue (27 entrances). If over a third of visitors, who would rely on private cars to transport their dogs, were to use the northern portion of the park, this would lead to higher congestion and parking conflicts for local residents. Moreover, there is extremely limited parking on those trail access, and with dogs not allowed on public transit, you are effectively taking away even access to those spaces.
   2. Other Visitors: The current proposal could dissuade users that depend on public transit from visiting. The northern portion of the park is much more easily accessible by public transit than the trails south of West 16th Avenue. A total of seven bus routes (routes 84, 44, 4, 42, 14, 9, 99) provide access directly to the northern portion of the park. Two bus routes (routes 33 and 25) run along West 16th Ave providing access to both sections of the park, taking this total to nine bus routes providing access to the northern section. Conversely, trails south of West 16th Avenue are only accessible by 2 bus routes additional to those on West 16th Ave (routes R4 and 49). The current proposal would push approximately 360,000 annual visitors into the northern section of the park, dissuading pedestrian users who can only access the park via public transit, due to an increase in visitors and off-leash dogs. Incidentally, this could increase park user conflicts due to higher foot traffic in a much smaller area.
4. Safety Concerns: The cliffs in the north-end of the park present a persistent danger to off-leash dogs. The cliffs at the north-end of PSRP, specifically towards Admiralty Trail, also present significant dangers to dogs who are off-leash. Many dog owners already avoid this trail, which is currently designated leash-optional, because of this danger. 

Whilst Dr Cierna has presented clear evidence of user conflicts in PSRP, it is imperative that Metro Vancouver considers ALL park users, ensuring that visitors feel safe, secure, and welcome.

We implore Metro Vancouver to reconsider the current proposal.

Currently there are over 250 parks in Vancouver, but only 39 off-leash dog areas—approximately 16% of all parks. As a frequent user of the off-leash dog trails within PSRP, these trails provide a rare sanctuary to enjoy the outdoors with off-leash dogs, boosting mental and physical well-being for both dog owners and their pets. Additionally, dog owners pay $65 per year to license our dogs, and this money can be used to pay for improved signage and enforcement. We (as a community) will also happily fund-raise to ensure the signage is proper and clear if needed.

I hope we can find a balanced solution that preserves the park's unique offerings for everyone.

Please also consider contacting Metro Vancouver directly at icentre@metrovancouver.org