Proposed dog park at Victor-Beaudry Park raises questions
Drazen Seslija
The proposed development of a dog park at Victor-Beaudry Park in Gatineau is raising questions among some residents of the area, who are requesting more details about the ongoing consultation process and the project's potential impacts.
Among them, one resident recently shared a series of concerns with the Bulletin regarding the participatory process, which runs until July 20, 2026. According to her, several key elements remain unclear, which would complicate citizens' ability to make informed decisions.
The resident specifically questions the methodology of the online questionnaire used for the consultation. She argues that the lack of a formal identification mechanism could allow the same person to respond more than once, which, in her view, raises questions about the credibility of the results.
She also expressed concerns about the proposed location for the future dog park. According to her, the proposed site is located near the Deschênes-Boucher ecological corridor and sensitive wetlands. She believes an environmental impact study is necessary to properly assess the project's potential consequences on these natural areas.
The resident also pointed out what she considers a lack of clarity regarding the size and exact location of the future dog park. She stated that different information has been provided, particularly concerning the project's size, which is fueling questions from several residents.
Other concerns include the potential increase in traffic to the area and the capacity of local infrastructure to accommodate a greater number of visitors should the project go ahead.
The city defends its approach
When contacted by the Bulletin regarding these concerns, the City of Gatineau stated that the consultation aims primarily to gather citizens' expectations, concerns, and suggestions in order to assess the project's social acceptability. According to the municipal administration, several criteria were considered in identifying the sites under study, including distance from other dog parks, proximity to residences, type of housing, and the geographic distribution of facilities across the territory.
The city also specifies that the questionnaire was designed primarily to collect qualitative data and not to conduct a statistical survey. Sorting questions allows respondents living in the immediate vicinity of the proposed site to be distinguished from other participants.
Regarding the possibility of multiple responses, the municipality states that it has implemented measures to limit duplicates while respecting the requirements related to the protection of personal information.
The municipal administration further maintains that the feedback gathered will allow for adjustments to the project, if necessary, and the identification of mitigation measures to promote harmonious coexistence among the various users of the area.
A decision is forthcoming
The city reiterates that the current consultation is only one step in the decision-making process. Once the public consultation period is over, the results will be analyzed and presented to the city council, which will ultimately decide whether the project will proceed and, if so, in what form.