Marmot Crescent Off-Leash Dog Park

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The purpose of off-leash dog parks is to provide a safe space for dog owners to exercise and socialize their dogs, with the goal of eliminating any dogs off leash in the Town and national park. Keeping dogs on leash or in fenced properties is essential to the protection of wildlife and maintenance of ecological integrity in the park. It is required by federal legislation as well as by Town bylaw. Keeping dogs on leash is a top priority of the Human-Wildlife Coexistence Roundtable, and off-leash dog parks provide an important way to allow dogs to exercise.

Banff Town Council directed the development of a dog park on Marmot Crescent, following an environmental review with Parks Canada.

The Marmot Crescent neighbourhood dog park would be located on the forested land parcel west of Marmot Crescent, east of the Whiskey Jack residential development on Fox Street, and between Cougar Street and the railway tracks and CPKC right of way.

This site also remains under consideration for future housing development or other development. The area is also scheduled to have trees thinned and deadfall and branches removed as part of FireSmart work to reduce the wildfire spread risk at the edge of our community.

The project to establish the dog park is budgeted at $100,000 for shovel testing and construction.

Public Feedback

The Town of Banff seeks feedback from local residents, other town residents and dog-park users about the project and any suggestions to make it more successful for all.

Drop-in Session

Learn about the project and share your feedback at an in-person drop-in information session:

  • Date: February 11
  • Time: 3 – 5 p.m. (no set start time)
  • Location: Marmot Crescent at Cougar Street. (see map)

Feedback Online

A survey (link at bottom of the page) can be completed between February 2 and February 23.

Why This Location?

Banff has only one year-round off-leash dog park, located in Sundance Park. The town has a population of almost 10,000 residents and an estimated 500 dogs, as well as visitors to the community, which amount to 4 million per year.

The Sundance Park Dog Park is 1.04 acres in area, which can result in many dogs using a confined space in peak summer. Previous studies show dog parks should be no smaller than 1 acre in area to avoid safety conflicts between dogs. The Town explored other area of the community and no other locations on the north side were identified of sufficient size, permitted land use and not being currently explored for housing projects.

A second year-round park estimated to be 1.5 acres in size is recommended to:

  • Reduce the distance a people must travel to bring their dogs to an off-leash park, thereby reducing the need for vehicle travel, and contribution to traffic congestion
  • allow for periodic closures of dog parks for seasonal maintenance, and
  • to ensure overcrowding is avoided, which can result in aggressive dog behaviors.

The proposed location would mainly serve north side residents. Currently, the main human use for the site is by residents who walk their dogs on leash. A dog park within the main town boundary in a residential areas is expected to require fewer people driving to the site, which many people needed to do to visit the dog park in the Industrial District, separated by a couple kilometres from the main town area, and separated by railway tracks, which are illegal to walk across, except at Compound Road.

As of September 2024, there are 432 licensed dogs in the town of Banff, and there are likely 10% more dogs who are not currently licensed. The proposed location is also in close proximity to the redeveloped Rotary Park and several large hotels.

Timeline

  • 2013
    • The town's first off-leash dog park was built in the Industrial District in the north end of town, on Hawk Avenue.
  • 2021
    • The Industrial District Dog Park was relocated north on Hawk Avenue to accommodate the creation of the Roam Transit Operations & Training Centre.
  • 2022
    • Debris from a historic waste site, existing before the incorporation of the municipality, began to surface as paths were established and dogs dug into the ground. Despite efforts to remove debris with daily sweeps, an expert analysis determined items such as broken glass would continue to surface unless the entire site was remediated.
  • 2022
    • A second off-leash dog park was opened for year-round access at Sundance Park as part of the recreation grounds redevelopment. This new dog park receives high visitation.
  • 2023
    • Council heard that Hawk Avenue Dog Park in the Industrial District had significant debris contamination in a consultant study. The site could be capped or all debris and much soil removed in full remediation, both costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Council decided to avoid the significant remediation costs and seek an alternative site.
    • The analysis determined the Industrial District dog park could remain open only in the winter months when the ground is frozen and covered with snow to contain the potentially hazardous debris.
    • Council requested administration to find another location for a year-round off leash dog park.
  • 2024
    • In February, Town Council directed administration to open a dog park on Marmot Crescent if supported by an Environment Impact Assessment conducted for Parks Canada. If approved, the Town is to hold an information session for residents.
    • In May 2024, Parks Canada requested a Basic Impact Assessment, which was submitted in September 2024. Parks Canada issued a determination that construction of the proposed Marmot Dog Park is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. The federal environmental assessment review process is now complete.
  • 2025
    • A Public Information Session is scheduled for February 11, 2025.

A full report on the environmental assessment and required mitigations will be presented to Council, scheduled for March 24, along with a "What We Heard" report from the Public Information Session.

Banff residents and organizations also have an opportunity to speak or submit comments directly to Council at this meeting.

The purpose of off-leash dog parks is to provide a safe space for dog owners to exercise and socialize their dogs, with the goal of eliminating any dogs off leash in the Town and national park. Keeping dogs on leash or in fenced properties is essential to the protection of wildlife and maintenance of ecological integrity in the park. It is required by federal legislation as well as by Town bylaw. Keeping dogs on leash is a top priority of the Human-Wildlife Coexistence Roundtable, and off-leash dog parks provide an important way to allow dogs to exercise.

Banff Town Council directed the development of a dog park on Marmot Crescent, following an environmental review with Parks Canada.

The Marmot Crescent neighbourhood dog park would be located on the forested land parcel west of Marmot Crescent, east of the Whiskey Jack residential development on Fox Street, and between Cougar Street and the railway tracks and CPKC right of way.

This site also remains under consideration for future housing development or other development. The area is also scheduled to have trees thinned and deadfall and branches removed as part of FireSmart work to reduce the wildfire spread risk at the edge of our community.

The project to establish the dog park is budgeted at $100,000 for shovel testing and construction.

Public Feedback

The Town of Banff seeks feedback from local residents, other town residents and dog-park users about the project and any suggestions to make it more successful for all.

Drop-in Session

Learn about the project and share your feedback at an in-person drop-in information session:

  • Date: February 11
  • Time: 3 – 5 p.m. (no set start time)
  • Location: Marmot Crescent at Cougar Street. (see map)

Feedback Online

A survey (link at bottom of the page) can be completed between February 2 and February 23.

Why This Location?

Banff has only one year-round off-leash dog park, located in Sundance Park. The town has a population of almost 10,000 residents and an estimated 500 dogs, as well as visitors to the community, which amount to 4 million per year.

The Sundance Park Dog Park is 1.04 acres in area, which can result in many dogs using a confined space in peak summer. Previous studies show dog parks should be no smaller than 1 acre in area to avoid safety conflicts between dogs. The Town explored other area of the community and no other locations on the north side were identified of sufficient size, permitted land use and not being currently explored for housing projects.

A second year-round park estimated to be 1.5 acres in size is recommended to:

  • Reduce the distance a people must travel to bring their dogs to an off-leash park, thereby reducing the need for vehicle travel, and contribution to traffic congestion
  • allow for periodic closures of dog parks for seasonal maintenance, and
  • to ensure overcrowding is avoided, which can result in aggressive dog behaviors.

The proposed location would mainly serve north side residents. Currently, the main human use for the site is by residents who walk their dogs on leash. A dog park within the main town boundary in a residential areas is expected to require fewer people driving to the site, which many people needed to do to visit the dog park in the Industrial District, separated by a couple kilometres from the main town area, and separated by railway tracks, which are illegal to walk across, except at Compound Road.

As of September 2024, there are 432 licensed dogs in the town of Banff, and there are likely 10% more dogs who are not currently licensed. The proposed location is also in close proximity to the redeveloped Rotary Park and several large hotels.

Timeline

  • 2013
    • The town's first off-leash dog park was built in the Industrial District in the north end of town, on Hawk Avenue.
  • 2021
    • The Industrial District Dog Park was relocated north on Hawk Avenue to accommodate the creation of the Roam Transit Operations & Training Centre.
  • 2022
    • Debris from a historic waste site, existing before the incorporation of the municipality, began to surface as paths were established and dogs dug into the ground. Despite efforts to remove debris with daily sweeps, an expert analysis determined items such as broken glass would continue to surface unless the entire site was remediated.
  • 2022
    • A second off-leash dog park was opened for year-round access at Sundance Park as part of the recreation grounds redevelopment. This new dog park receives high visitation.
  • 2023
    • Council heard that Hawk Avenue Dog Park in the Industrial District had significant debris contamination in a consultant study. The site could be capped or all debris and much soil removed in full remediation, both costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Council decided to avoid the significant remediation costs and seek an alternative site.
    • The analysis determined the Industrial District dog park could remain open only in the winter months when the ground is frozen and covered with snow to contain the potentially hazardous debris.
    • Council requested administration to find another location for a year-round off leash dog park.
  • 2024
    • In February, Town Council directed administration to open a dog park on Marmot Crescent if supported by an Environment Impact Assessment conducted for Parks Canada. If approved, the Town is to hold an information session for residents.
    • In May 2024, Parks Canada requested a Basic Impact Assessment, which was submitted in September 2024. Parks Canada issued a determination that construction of the proposed Marmot Dog Park is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. The federal environmental assessment review process is now complete.
  • 2025
    • A Public Information Session is scheduled for February 11, 2025.

A full report on the environmental assessment and required mitigations will be presented to Council, scheduled for March 24, along with a "What We Heard" report from the Public Information Session.

Banff residents and organizations also have an opportunity to speak or submit comments directly to Council at this meeting.

  • Marmot Off-Leash Dog Park Survey

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Page last updated: 11 Feb 2025, 12:29 PM