doreyme: dog parks of montreal

Percy Walters Park, wrecked by the city of Montreal

For years + years (like centuries) Percy Walters Park, situated very near to downtown Montreal has been the city's best dog park, official or not. Legend has it that it was left to citizens "+ their companions" for all time. This week the good city fathers + mothers decided it was due time ( a few months before a civic election) to erect a fence half way through it. One side for children (from 2 to 5 only) the other side for the inner city dog owners. So this is temporary, a huge ugly fence not keeping with the historic park will probably be erected. I love kids as much as the next person but, hey, there's a huge park next door, called Mount Royal (where unleashed dogs are not allowed) plus, if there are any kids around here, they are the the children of privilege, the cottage children, the big backyard children + the children whose nannies might prefer the Mountain to this canine oasis. This city has so many designated parks + fields + arenas + stadiums for athletes+sports fans plus there are the bike paths the new zillion dollar bike rentals etc. -- you'd think the city councillors could throw the occasional bone to the dog people? (Also, see how dark it is on the "kid side"? Nice play area. Unless they now pull down all the trees, too?

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dear rottweilers, dobermans + pit bulls...

This is the "dog park" in Jeanne Mance Park. It's right beside an inner city high way called Park Avenue without a fence or enclosure of any kind. (Ok, I'm exaggerating a tiny bit but cars do go very very fast + dogs have been killed on it.) Beside this "dog park" area there is a huge field for soccer players, used only part of the year. A big baseball diamond, used only part of the year, a designated bike path, a pool for kids used for only a short part of the year. As for the dog people + their dogs? We're out there EVERYDAY all year round. + this is our puny restricted hours only no leash area. Humbug!

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