Editor:

It has been several years since I first ‘discovered’ West Fraser Timber Park.

Over that time I have enjoyed watching bird life on the pond in the spring and in the fall.

It was sad to see the muskrats disappear.

Friends and family enjoy using the tennis courts that were recently opened for public use.

I picked cranberries there this fall and made jam.

My grandchildren have enjoyed their adventures on the nature trail through school programs and on their own.

I even had a go at lawn bowling. I’ve watched the odd baseball game along with parents, grandparents and friends of the players.

I enjoy the peals of laughter coming from the children’s play park.

And I’ve smelled the roses blooming in the gardens.

My greatest enjoyment at West Fraser Timber Park is being able to walk my dogs off-leash safely, where my dogs and I enjoy meeting other dogs and their owners with few worries.

This is the only place in the city where a single female and/or elderly person can feel fairly safe walking a dog.

This is the only place that is secure enough to allow a person to walk a dog safely off-leash.

For those people with non-sociable dogs there are plenty of other places throughout the City of Quesnel where their dogs can be walked without being a threat to those of us who use the park, children and adults alike.

I suggest that if your dog cannot be controlled, leashed or off-leash, if your dog is not a social/friendly dog, then please do not walk your dog at West Fraser Park where they are a menace to other dogs as well as to all of us who use the park.

For those of us who do enjoy walking our dogs off-leash, please have respect for others who use the park and pick up after your dogs.

Refuse baggies have been provided by the City of Quesnel and only inconsiderate clods do not use them.

Those who insist on walking their dogs inside the fenced baseball diamonds, shame on you.

“No dogs allowed” signs are clearly posted and those who do not obey those signs should be fined.

These are designated play areas for baseball and your dog feces on those grounds are not appreciated.

If those inconsiderate few dog walkers continue to abuse the privilege of using West Fraser Park then that privilege will be taken away from all of us.

Please be considerate.

Do not bring unfriendly, unsociable dogs, leashed or off-leash, to the park where they will endanger people using the park as well as other dogs.

For goodness sake, pick up after your dogs.

And keep your dogs out of the fenced baseball diamonds.

R.D. Kerr

Quesnel