It’s “take two” for a proposed dog park in Delhi.
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The Kin Club has scouted out a new location for a park after the first one – south of the Delhi Arena between the arena and Big Creek – was met with “major backlash” from nearby residents.
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“It created quite the little uproar in Delhi about the dog park location,” Kin Club president Brent Stefan said of media coverage last fall. “So, with every challenge comes new opportunities.”
Stefan came to a Norfolk council-in-committee meeting on Tuesday to pitch a possible new location for a dog park and, potentially, a skate park. The property is just south of Argyle Avenue behind the county’s bulk water filling station. Land east of the property, said Stefan, is used as the roads department’s “boneyard” for vehicles and would make for a parking lot, easily accessible for drivers coming off of Huggins Avenue.
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“We’re projecting to put the dog park on the south end, leaving a considerable amount of space for, maybe, a skate park in the future,” Stefan told councillors. “We can bring in a park that Delhi is desperately, desperately needing. Delhi has been asking for a skate park for a decade now.”
The plan, he said, could also include a “multi-court” area.
The location originally proposed for a dog park raised concerns from neighbors about noise, dogs roaming in backyards and traffic.
“We don’t, as a service club, want to upset anyone,” said Stefan. “The club has decided not to proceed with that original location.”
Back in September, the dog park was estimated to cost $28,000, with the Kin Cub splitting the cost with the county. At the time, Stefan brought a $7,000 check to a council meeting as a first installation to demonstrate the club’s commitment to the project.
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The county had earmarked $45,000 for a dog park in Delhi for 2027 but preliminary pricing by county staff revealed putting up a fence would cost $28,000.
“Kin Club of Delhi is a service organization,” said Stefan. “We can go after some grants. We can fundraise. We can partner with Norfolk County and, maybe, move this project a little bit quicker.”
Bill Cridland, Norfolk’s general manager of community services, said the proposed dog park area is currently brushed and a “bit of a liability” because it’s sometimes used by people to dump yard waste and garbage. He said an adequate buffer would be put between the proposed dog park and the water filling station.
Cridland said the second phase of the project, including the skate park, on an old landfill site, would require more study.
“Lots of landfills across Ontario are becoming more recreational,” said Cridland. “If it works out, (the club) will be coming here to see what we can do with Phase 2. I think it’s a good news story for the club in Norfolk. Everybody likes the location.”
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