THE PEACH ORCHARD DOG PARK IN SUMMERLAND IS IN DANGER OF BEING CLOSED! THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ALL USERS. This field is NOT for a single use as the small Anti-Dog Park Group proclaims (or their pseudo name "restore peach orchard park" for the goose to poop). It is for everyone and anyone! A shared community space! 

Please sign our physical petition down at the dog park if you haven't already! 

AND

PLEASE SIGN this petition to help KEEP Peach Orchard Dog Park!

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Want to help more?

URGENT: If you want to SAVE PEACH ORCHARD DOG PARK, you need to WRITE A LETTER or SEND an EMAIL to City Hall (NO LATER THAN JUNE 11, 2024) letting them that you want to keep this a permanent off-leash dog park.

EMAIL: allcouncil@summerland.ca  

MAIL/IN PERSON: 13211 Henry Ave, Summerland.

Please sign our physical petition down at the dog park if you haven't already!

Dog Owners we would like you to come join us if you can for these meetings, as we expect the small group of Tuscan Terrance residents/ anti-dog park group or their "pseudo name" - Restore Peach Orchard -to be there and to use the public comment periods to present more misinformation to Council and further denigrate dog owners. We will be there to show our support for the park and if needed, speak in defense of dog owners, correct false statements, and support our Councillors. We would love your support there with us as well.

 

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*IMPORTANT FINAL DECISION DATE* Debate on the Council motion has been put on the June 11th agenda. We need you to come on June 11th as well!

SDOA will be formally presenting as a delegation on Tuesday June 11th 2024 at 1:00pm.

At 6:00PM Council will then be debating Mayor Holmes motion asking staff to consider looking at a different location.

Simply put, this motion should be rejected by Council, as it is a waste of time and money covering ground already trod by Council and consultants. Even better, Council should instead vote to finally make the park permanent and resolve this decades-old debate now!

The best time to speak will be during the open public comment period at the end of the meetings, and by registering to speak during the agenda-related public comment period at the beginning of the June 11th 6PM meeting.

To ensure you have a spot to speak during the 6pm meeting, you MUST register as soon as possible (right now even). Email corporateofficer@summerland.ca asking to speak at the June 11th evening meeting regarding the dog park item on the agenda.

There are limited slots available, and the anti-dog park has been filling up all available meeting slots in advance, suppressing our voices. Either way, come to any meetings you are able to, email Council, and speak out to show your support for the dog park and Summerland dog owners!
 
CAO:
gstatt@summerland.ca
Mayor:
dholmes@summerland.ca
Councillors:
jpeake@summerland.ca
dpatan@summerland.ca
abetts@summerland.ca
rbarkwill@summerland.ca
mvanalphen@summerland.ca
etrainer@summerland.ca

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Thank you for your Support!

SAVE PEACH ORCHARD DOG PARK NOW!! WHY SUPPORT? CLICK HERE: SDOAsavepeachorcharddogpark.ca

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This wonderful site has been a blessing as Summerland's ONLY fully-fenced large off leash dog park. A place where people and dogs congregate and bring our community together to socialize,  play and exercise together safely!

A dog park of no less than one acre in size provides a safe and accessible place to expand these amazing health benefits. Being able to enjoy the fresh air outdoors while providing a much-needed social connection with other residents who have a common interest is a great cure for social anxiety and isolation. All these benefits are available from children to seniors, including families and those who live alone, and for residents of all levels of ability and mobility.

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Arguments being made AGAINST the dog park:

"But there are other so many other locations to put a dog park in Summerland!"

THIS IS FALSE, there are no suitable locations for a large dog park without purchasing new land and/or very expensive land development!

FACT: Since 2009 Peach Orchard Park has already been Off-Leash for Dogs during the off-season (Oct 01 - May 01). The only difference now, is that less than half of the grassy portion is now fenced for safety for owners and their family dogs and separation from other users.

"The park is now single use!"

FALSE! THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ALL USERS. Weddings, reunions, barbecues and picnics, ball-toss, sunbathing and other events did not suddenly disappear from the park, they still happen. More than 1.3 acres of multi-use greenspace still remains available to use and the gazebo, water park, volleyball courts, beach, and playground all remain untouched and separate from the dog park.

See how much green space is still available? There is plenty of room for ALL users on this field it is NOT for a single use as the Anti-Dog Group proclaims. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most of the Peach Orchard Park site has not been very usable for years because of the geese that made this park their personal toilet! (No one picks up goose poop!) Canadian geese cause ecological damage, destroying natural grassy habitat, and their droppings can carry diseases that can be passed on to people. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada Geese at Peach Orchard have drawn complaints through out the years from people who say it's like walking through a mine field at Peach Orchard. Since the Dog Park was set up our residents no longer have to watch their step at Peach Orchard. 

We are not unique, Peachland has a problem so bad they are using DOGS to help control the geese! 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dog-goose-patrol-peachland-1.6894317

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goose Poop is a health risk to families and children. Families that play on the ground where goose poop has been, and is no longer visible, there is still microscopic organisms still occur can still make you very ill. Interesting fact geese actually poo every seven minutes. Imagine with 30 + geese how much poop has been left behind from them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Peach Orchard has a sewer lift station that services lower Summerland. Complaints about bad smells at the park are actually because of venting issues since the station opened and NEVER because of dogs as it is being claimed!

Water table and drainage issues have been known and documented for over 15 years.  This effects the quality of the field for large parts of the year, and further limit suitable uses.

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Survey conducted by:

Summerland Dog Owners Association

Click Here For The District's Agenda 

View our recent dog park feedback study here:

SDOA Summerland Dog Park Survey 2023​

Find us on Facebook/Meta!

EMAIL: summerland.dog.owners.association@gmail.com

Save Peach Orchard Dog Park Website:

 SDOAsavepeachorcharddogpark.ca

View a timeline of our advocacy efforts since 2012 here:

SDOA Advocacy Timeline

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!!! IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING DONATIONS !!!

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We do not require or ask for any donation.

Thank you for your support!