Scarborough Centre residents, and their four-legged friends, are benefitting from our new community dog parks.
Thomson Memorial Dog Park
Back in 2010, Glenn helped create the largest dog park in the City of Toronto—and it recently became even bigger. Glenn created the three-acre Thomson Dog Park with the first-ever segregated area for small dogs only, a feature sparked by an idea from a local resident. The main dog park became so busy and popular that some senior and shy dogs were kept away, due to all the frolicking and chasing. So, Glenn arranged to add a one-acre area just for senior dogs and quiet dogs. It’s the perfect spot for dogs seeking off-leash fun without the excitement of 20 other dogs stealing their tennis ball! Glenn also arranged the installation of a water station at the dog park (and the adjacent tennis courts) as well as walking paths around the perimeter of the dog park.
Hand of God Dog Park
Thousands of families in the condos north of Ellesmere Road have a nearby place to take their dogs for play and socialization. Glenn raised funds to install a small dog park at the Hand of God Park (located on the south side of Borough Drive, just south of the Civic Centre and library). The dog park made this small park busier than it has ever been and allows many new residents to admire the magnificent bronze sculpture, entitled Hand of God, designed by Swedish sculptor Carl Milles and commissioned by friends of Albert M. Campbell back in 1973.
Centennial Recreation Centre Dog Park
This dog park, which Glenn helped to design, approve and fund, includes a space for small dogs—those under 20 lbs.—and an area for larger dogs. There’s a section with paving stones and a large area of pea gravel, which is washed with sprinklers overnight. Built on what was previously an unused, overflow parking area at the Centennial Recreation Centre, this park features lights, free parking and, when the recreation centre is open, washrooms. The addition of trees, benches and sitting rocks is making the space even more enjoyable for our canine friends and their human companions.
Bellamy Dog Zone
It took Glenn more than four years to raise the funds to build large outdoor dog kennels and exercise runs for our shelter dogs, as well as a public dog park just southeast of the Bellamy/Progress intersection. The public “Dog Zone” is a welcome addition for the area’s dog owners, as well as animal shelter volunteers who take shelter dogs out for walks and play. The Dog Zone, which opened on December 1, 2017, is an extension of the Animal Shelter. It is open to the public every weekend, on statutory holidays, and during weekdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. At other times, the space is reserved for dogs from the Animal Shelter. View the Dog Zone’s Code of Conduct.