Metro Vancouver Proposes Reduction in Off-Leash Dog Trails at Pacific Spirit Park
Metro Vancouver staff are advocating for a significant reduction in off-leash dog trails and an increase in no-dog trails within Vancouver's Pacific Spirit Regional Park. This proposal comes in response to a concerning number of dog-related safety incidents reported over recent years.
Safety Concerns Prompt Park Management Changes
A recent Metro Vancouver report reveals that between 2020 and 2024, there were almost 400 documented dog-related safety incidents within the 860-hectare park that surrounds the University of British Columbia. These incidents include dog bites, visitors being chased or knocked down, aggressive behavior, injuries to other dogs, and conflicts between park visitors.
Mike Redpath, director of regional parks, will present this plan to the regional parks committee next Wednesday. The proposal aims to better manage the more than one million dogs that visit the Vancouver park annually.
Growing Pressure on Park Resources
"Due to an increasing volume of visitors, including dogs, the park is experiencing more pressure on its trails and habitat," Redpath's report states. "This creates dog-related impacts on visitor experience, public safety incidents, and ecology."
Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Metro Vancouver's largest park, attracts approximately four million visitors each year. Remarkably, one-third of these visitors come with dogs, highlighting the significant role dogs play in park usage.
Current Off-Leash Compliance Issues
Park monitoring has revealed a substantial compliance problem: almost two-thirds of visiting dogs are found off-leash on trails where leashes are required. This finding underscores the challenges in managing dog behavior within the popular recreational area.
A visitor survey presented interesting contrasts in park experiences. While 94 percent of visitors with dogs reported positive experiences, only 24 percent of visitors without dogs felt similarly. This disparity suggests that dogs significantly impact the park experience for different user groups.
Proposed Trail Allocation Changes
The current trail allocation shows 61.5 percent of trails designated as off-leash areas. Redpath's proposal would reduce this to 51 percent. Meanwhile, trails designated for humans only would increase from 12 percent to 14 percent under the new plan.
The most substantial change would occur with on-leash trails, which would see a 35 percent increase in allocation. This shift represents a significant rebalancing of trail usage priorities within the park.
Implementation Timeline and Signage Updates
Beginning in May 2026, new color-coded signage will be installed throughout the park. Green signs will indicate leash-optional areas, orange signs will mark leash-required trails, and red signs will designate no-dog zones. Additional warning signs will instruct visitors to keep dogs out of streams to protect sensitive aquatic habitats.
These changes reflect Metro Vancouver's commitment to balancing recreational use with safety concerns and ecological protection in one of the region's most popular natural spaces.
