Off Leash Park Areas and Sports Fields

On June 1, 2010 several summer off leash sports fields will open. Additional fields may be selected in May for summer off leash activities based on field conditions and availability. On November 1, 2010 HRM will reopen 28 sports fields for off leash activities. The fields will be open from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM until May 1, 2011.

At other HRM sports fields you must keep your dog on leash. Some sports fields prohibit dogs altogether. Look for these signs to ensure that you are being a responsible dog owner.

HRM also operates 5 pilot off leash park areas that are open year-round from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Please remember that sports fields are a shared community resource.

Don't unleash your dog when children or adults are playing in a sports field and always remember to clean up after your pet.  The success of this program depends on the stewardship of responsible pet owners following these simple field rules.

Larry O’Connell Field -Off Leash Area

Opening July 1, 2010

Off leash activities are now permitted at Larry O'Connell Field from 5:30-8:30AM starting July 1, 2010. Subject to an assessment of field conditions in the Fall the off leash area may open for extended hours (5:30 AM - 10:00 PM) starting October 1, 2010.

Larry O’Connell Field -Off Leash Proposal

Neighbourhood Meeting

Wednesday, June 9 from 6:30-9:00 pm

St. Andrew’s Centre, 6955 Bayers Road

The HRM Off Leash Parks Strategy Committee and Councillor Jennifer Watts will be hosting a neighbourhood meeting on Wednesday, June 9 from 6:30-9:00 pm at the St. Andrew’s Centre, 6955 Bayers Road to discuss options for summer and fall off leash uses of the field area. The hours of operation for the summer are proposed to be from 5:30-8:30 am. In the fall the sport field is proposed to be open from October 1 to May 1 from 5:30-10:00 pm for off leash uses. This will be an opportunity for local residents, ball team players, parents and officials, parents of preschool children attending summer programs at the Larry O’Connell Centre and off leash proponents to meet and share ideas concerning the challenges and merits of introducing off leash activities at the field.

Notice for Dog Owners Visiting Shubie Park, Dartmouth

(Thursday, April 29, 2010) - In addition to the SPCA’s notice of a recent increase in the number of cases of canine parvovirus, HRM is alerting dog owners to a warning from a local veterinary hospital that affected animals have travelled in the Shubie Park area - from the Shubenacadie Canal to the Dartmouth Crossing. Posters have been placed at the park to notify owners.

The virus is transmitted when a dog comes into contact with the feces of an infected animal.

Halifax Regional Municipality is, once again, reminding dog owners of the importance of picking up after their pets. This virus is another example of why this municipal policy is in place.

The intestinal tract is where most of the damage occurs when it enters the body. It attaches to the lining of the intestines and can kill a dog. While this is a serious and deadly disease in puppies, it can also be fatal in adult dogs. Clinical signs include: vomiting, watery and foul-smelling bloody diarrhea, weight loss, and lethargy. The incubation period is three to seven days. If you have any questions, please contact your local veterinarian.

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Contact:

Shaune MacKinlay
HRM Public Affairs
902-490-6531

Stephen Rice
Major Parks
490-1903

Andrea MacDonald
Manager, Animal Services
490-7371

3.4 Discretionary Park Redesignation Process

At its discretion, the Committee may revoke an on leash or off leash area designation and impose a “No Dogs” designation in a park or sportsfield where dog owners chronically fail to follow the “Stoop and Scoop” provisions of the Dog By-law. The Committee may also choose to apply a “No Dogs” designation in a park or sportsfield where chronic user conflicts or environmental impacts cannot be resolved. The Committee will prepare an information report to the responsible Council stating its concerns and its intention to redesignate the affected park. This will be accompanied by a published public notice (14) days before the “No Dogs” designation is scheduled to take effect. On a semi-annual basis, reinstatement appeals will be considered by the Committee.

Larry O'Connell Sports Field
Off Leash Proposal
Neighbourhood Meeting
St. Agnes Church Gymnasium
6:30 - 9:00 pm
Monday, November 23, 2009

A group of off leash proponents has submitted a proposal to permit off leash activities during the summer at times of the day the Larry O'Connell Sports Field is not being used for baseball. The HRM Off Leash Parks Strategy Committee will be hosting a neighbourhood meeting on Monday, November 23 from 6:30-9:00 pm at the St. Agnes Church gymnasium, 6903 Mumford Road to discuss options for summer off leash uses of the field area. This will be an opportunity for local residents, ball team officials and off leash proponents to meet and share ideas concerning the challenges and merits of introducing off leash activities at the field.

  Robert Drive Ball Diamond

Has Been Flagged and it's on Probation

Before the off leash area was reopened on September 25 the field was cleaned by neighbourhood volunteers.  HRM staff visited the site on Friday, October 9. 

Seventeen flags were placed where owners had failed to pick up after their pets.  While some pet owners came out to pick up what others had neglected, a number of dog owners have continued to ignore the park's rules.

A neighbourhood volunteer has been cleaning the off leash area on a daily basis for the past two weeks. His latest tally of close to 50 waste piles is not encouraging.

The HRM Off Leash Parks Strategy Committee has decided that if this situation continues the park area will be closed for off leash activities. A probationary period from October 27 to November 30, 2009 has been established to assess whether pet owners are behaving responsibly.

Robert Drive Ball Diamond

       Neighbourhood Meeting Results

        The Off Leash Area Will Reopen Friday, September 25, 2009

The HRM Off Leash Parks Strategy Committee hosted a neighbourhood meeting on Wednesday, September 23 from 7:00-9:00 pm at the East Dartmouth Community Centre, 50 Caledonia Road to discuss the reopening of the off leash field at Robert Drive.

The meeting provided an opportunity for local residents, ball team officials and off leash proponents to meet and discuss off leash issues related to the Robert Drive Ball Diamond.

Participants demonstrated a sincere willingness to compromise and share the use of the field this Fall.

• The field will be open in the mornings and evenings for off leash activities.
• Dogs will not be allowed off leash in the field from 12:00 noon to 5:00pm daily.
• Temporary signs will be posted at the field indicating field rules and hours of operation.
• A doggie bag dispenser will also be installed.
• Participants also agreed to refrain from using the field during wet weather conditions.

Information about field closures is available at the HRM Field Conditions website.

Comments are welcome and will be posted on our Comments & Feedback page.

Guiding Principles and Designation Criteria for Off Leash Areas

This handbook for the selection and development of off leash areas in HRM was developed after extensive public consultation in 2006/07.

To download a copy of the handbook click on the following link:

HRM Off Leash Parks Strategy Guidelines & Designation Criteria 

Do you have questions or concerns?  Please select Contact Us from the links section on the left side of this page.

E-mail: parkdog@halifax.ca