Medicine Hat shifts to default on-leash rule for parks starting Sept. 8
The city is standardizing off-leash access across its trail network after residents reported unpredictable encounters with unleashed pets and under-reported safety incidents.
Starting Sept. 8, all municipal parks, trails and open spaces in Medicine Hat will default to on-leash unless clearly marked as an off-leash zone. The change replaces the previous, less defined system with five designated off-leash sites covering a combined 58 hectares.
The updated inventory keeps the city's two existing fenced dog parks, Westvue and Saratoga, and adds three new unfenced areas: a section of Echo Dale Regional Park, a corridor through the Ranchlands and Parkview neighbourhoods, and part of the Ross Glen natural area. The city says this brings off-leash provision to about 8.5 hectares per 10,000 residents, above most Canadian municipal averages.
Officials say the shift followed public feedback showing declining trail visits due to unpredictable dog encounters and confusion over boundaries, along with reports of severe, under-reported incidents involving children, wildlife and mobility-aid users. The five sites were chosen for high visibility, open layouts and multiple access points to reduce surprise encounters.
Parks and Recreation acting director Scott Richter acknowledged mixed reactions but said public safety must come first. New boundary markers are being installed, and any trail or park without explicit off-leash signage will require dogs to be leashed. Maps and policy details are available at medicinehat.ca/offleash.
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