Community association pans city's 2nd attempt to expand cemetery by closing dog park

A plan by Calgary's parks department to close a northwest dog parkin order to expand a city-run cemetery has unleashed a wave of dj vu for the neighbourhood community association.

Queen's Park Cemetery has been in operation for nearly 80 years and is nearing capacity. Anew cemetery planned in the city's southeast is still years away from completion.

To ease that gap, the parks department is pushing ahead with the rezoning of the off-leash park and hopes to start on the burial ground expansion by this summer.

Daryl Connolly, the president of the Cambrian Heights Community Association, says this isn't the first time the city has tried to rezone the park to expand the cemetery.

• City plans to build Calgary's 1st new cemetery in 74 years

A previous attempt back in 2005was derailed with the help of opposition from the community.

Connolly says shortly after, the community was promised the land would remain a reserve.

"This is similar to what happened in 2005 the parks department thought they had the rights for this, were convinced ultimately that they did not and then changed their mind by order of council, they were instructed to go find other burial sites south of town, which apparently they haven't done," he said.

The community association was informed on March 12 of the parks' department's latest plan to close off the off-leash park bordering 10thStreet and 32nd Avenue N.W. Connolly said the community association hasn'tbeen askedfor feedback on the matter and there has been little communication with residents in general.

Dewi Wood was one of many people at the park on Monday, braving the wind and cold temperatures to socialize with neighbours. He says the loss of the park will mean a loss for the whole community.

"I don't have a dog myself but I see this area as being utilized as a very vibrant public space. I see people get together, I see vibrant community activity, I see physical activity, I see dogs welcoming each other as the dog park part of it. But I see mostly a safe, well-utilized area," he said.

Alternative off-leash area

City representatives could not be reached for comment Monday, but a post on the city website says staff would like to try to provide a new or improved alternative off-leash area nearby.

Connolly said that won't be easy.

"There's no other acreage around that doesn't involve schools or playgrounds so I'm not sure where another park would be," he said.

"We appreciate the cemetery and what it involves with people and their grieving and their leaving of their family, but from our point of view, a two-year stopgap that takes away this park from the living does not make a lot of sense to us."

An information session on the cemeteryexpansionis planned for May 9 at theHighwoodCommunity Hall.

The parks department is accepting input from the public until April 13.

• MORE CALGARY NEWS|Online census opens to Calgarians in annual count
• MORE CALGARY NEWS|Alberta woman tracks down lost dogs after losing her own