North Bay opens four neighborhood off-leash dog areas through pilot project

North Bay has turned four outdoor rinks into gated off-leash dog areas, giving owners of high-energy dogs a legal place to let them run closer to home. The pilot covers Sage Park, Kinette Playground, Greenhill Park and Police Playground, and the city launched it on May 7 in response to resident feedback calling for more accessible off-leash space in different parts of town.

The setup is meant to do more than offer a quick bathroom stop. By using rink boards as enclosed barriers through spring, summer and fall, the city has created contained spaces where dogs can stretch out, practice recall and meet other dogs without crossing town to reach a larger park. Signs outlining park rules and responsible-use expectations are posted at each site, and dog-waste bag stations are already in place, signaling that this is a managed off-leash experiment, not an open field with a dog sign.

The move also fits into a broader shift in North Bay’s dog-space planning. The city said the pilot runs alongside planned enhancements this spring at Bruman Community Dog Park, which was established in 2015 in response to community demand for a safe, designated off-leash space. The North Bay and District Humane Society operated Bruman under lease for 10 years before the city took over operation and maintenance on Nov. 30, 2025. North Bay’s reliance on rink space also makes practical sense: the city operates 11 outdoor rinks, plus one skating oval and trail, giving it a ready-made seasonal footprint to test in neighbourhoods.

For owners who need more than a leash walk around the block, the practical value is immediate. The city has 73 park areas, and the pilot is one way to test whether dog access can be spread out without overwhelming larger sites. At the same time, the North Bay and District Humane Society says animal control officers patrol the off-leash park and can ask users to leave, and it advises against bringing puppies under four months old, or injured, stressed or older dogs with hip dysplasia or arthritis. If the pilot draws steady use and keeps the rules intact, North Bay will have a clearer answer on whether neighborhood-scale off-leash zones belong in the city’s permanent park mix.