City confirms off-leash dog area not planned for Dieppe Park in East York

By MATTHEW STEPHENS

The City of Toronto has confirmed its planned second phase of improvements to Dieppe Park in East York will not include an off-leash dog area, despite some residents maintaining that “contradicting” alternative plans had been made in recent months.

“The city’s plans seem to contradict themselves on their website, initially citing Dieppe Park as a non-candidate for an off-leash area, and them seemingly for no reason, removing the flexible, equitable community space supported by the neighbourhood for an unwanted single-purpose area,” said local resident Isabella Williams in a recent email to Beach Metro Community News.

The first phase of the redesign, which commenced in 2022, has seen significant changes made to Dieppe Park on Cosburn Avenue, including a new playground and splash pad as well as the removal of a flexible play lawn.

In April of this year, Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher’s office held a public meeting to present the updated plan for the second phase of improvements. Those improvements and changes included relocated ping pong table and storage sheds, new shaded patio seating, players benches, and outdoor fitness equipment.

However, Williams said the city’s recent plans cited Dieppe Park as being considered for an off-leash area event though it does not meet guidelines that require specific setbacks.  “The city’s guidelines for off-leash areas have minimum setbacks from fences, fields, and residences that are not being met in the design,” said Williams.

However, City of Toronto Senior Communications Advisor Jas Baweja confirmed in an email to Beach Metro Community News that an off-leash area is “not in the scope” for the Dieppe Park project, and that other area sites are currently being assessed for eligibility following public feedback.

“An off-leash dog area is not currently in scope for the Dieppe Park Improvement project and the city is currently assessing other sites in the ward based on the City’s Dog Off-Leash Strategy, adopted by Council in 2025,” said Baweja in her email.

“The city had presented a revised Dieppe Park Master Plan to the public for feedback in April 2026. The city has since received feedback against this plan,” said Baweja.

According to Goal 3: (Design, Locate and Build Quality Off-Leash Areas) of the city’s Dog Off-Leash Strategy from April 2025, location criteria includes setbacks from adjacent and sensitive uses in parks to “find the best possible location for an OLA within a park.”

The goal also mentions that location criteria for off leash defines a “minimum size (200 m2) for an OLA to allow siting in different community contexts while providing adequate space for people and dogs.”

Williams said that incorporating an OLA in the approximately 7.4-acre Dieppe Park means removing “the last speck of flexible space to be used by the community.”

For more information about Dieppe Park improvements, head to https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/construction-new-facilities/improvements-expansion-redevelopment/dieppe-park-improvements/