Scanlon Creek Bark Park
Important Notice: Scanlon Creek Bark Park Closing Permanently on May 31, 2026
Dear Valued Bark Park Users:
We recognize that the Scanlon Creek Bark Park has been an important and well used space for many residents and their dogs. We also understand that the decision to permanently close the park will be disappointing and frustrating for some members of the community. We appreciate the opportunity to share more context about this decision and the factors that led to it.
Public Safety Comes First
The primary reason for closing the leash free dog park is safety. Recent regional road expansion in the area has significantly changed traffic patterns and conditions around the park entrance. As a result, turning into and out of the driveway has become increasingly hazardous. This creates safety risks for park users, drivers, pedestrians, and our staff. Public safety is a responsibility we take very seriously, and after careful review, we determined that these risks cannot be adequately mitigated while the dog park remains in operation.
Repurposing the Space for Education
Repurposing this area will help enhance security at our works yard, which is important for protecting equipment, infrastructure, and staff. In addition, operating and maintaining a leash‑free dog park is not part of our core mandate as a conservation authority. As we continue to review how our lands and facilities are used, we are prioritizing activities that directly support conservation, education, and watershed management.
Closure Date and Next Steps
The leash‑free dog park will close permanently on May 31, 2026. We are providing advance notice to give users time to prepare and explore nearby alternative locations.
- Town of Aurora
- City of Barrie
- Town of Innisfil
- Town of Newmarket
- Town of New Tecumseth
- Simcoe County
- York Region
We deeply value community connection to our conservation area spaces, and we don’t make decisions like this lightly. This closure reflects a careful balancing of safety considerations, organizational responsibilities, and future benefit. The repurposed space will allow us to support long‑term educational outcomes for the watershed community.
Dogs will continue to be welcome at the Scanlon Creek Conservation Area, provided they are kept on leash and under control, helping protect wildlife, natural habitats, and the safety of all visitors.
We sincerely thank the many community members who have enjoyed and supported the Bark Park over the years.
For more information: info@LSRCA.on.ca
Who to Contact
Conservation Lands
✆ 905-895-1281
✆ 1-800-465-0437 Toll free
✉ info@LSRCA.on.ca
Visiting the Conservation Area?
If you plan to visit the rest of Scanlon Creek (or another conservation area), please remember to keep your pet on-leash at all times!