Heather Wright/The Independent

Petrolia is planning a new dog park.

The town has included $20,000 in the 2026 capital budget for the project in a yet to be named location.

Councillor Liz Welsh wanted the dog park to be deferred for a year. “Without any fault of ours, all of our operating costs are up on basically all of our facilities and there isn’t a lot we can do about some of those costs.

“Speaking from a resident perspective and as a homeowner, if all of my operating costs were going up in my home, I would have to seriously consider if I was going to do any new things with my home,” she said.

“We’re in some pretty interesting economic times right now and it’s probably going to get a little bit worse before it gets better than unfortunately. And I just think we need to be really responsible and look after our essential services right now and maybe not add to that.”

But Mayor Brad Loosley said during the last election, there were a lot of questions about a new dog park at the door.

Councillor Bill Clark agreed it’s a high priority. 

Clark, who has been on the parks and recreation committee says “This is not going away. This comes up, every year for more than once a year to the committee.”

Residents also place it as priority in surveys done on recreational needs.

Deputy Mayor Joel Field wanted to move ahead with the dog parks to give back to the dog owners who pay licensing fees for their animals.

“I feel that this would not be one of those items that’s going to take a lot to do.”