Installation of safety fencing will close a popular Vernon dog park for a couple of days later this month.
The City of Vernon and Regional District of North Okanagan are letting residents and visitors know that BX Dog Park will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 23 and 24.
"This closure is necessary for City of Vernon crews to set up equipment and install safety fencing for the annual dredging of the BX sediment pond, which supports ongoing flood mitigation efforts downstream," said the city in a release Tuesday, Sept. 17.
The park will partially reopen on Wednesday, Sept. 25, with access to the areas around the sediment pond remaining completely closed to the public until Tuesday, Oct. 15. This closure includes water access to the sediment pond. Timelines may change if emergencies arise.
During the partial closure, additional protective fencing will be installed around the riparian area adjacent to the sediment pond to address significant damage caused by the impact of human and pet activity on sensitive riparian plants.
This new fencing will allow access to the water once the park has fully reopened, but the fenced-off areas around the riparian plantings will remain completely closed to the public.
"We ask visitors to avoid entering the fenced-off riparian areas and to keep dogs out to help the newly planted vegetation establish properly," said the city. "Any damaged vegetation that does not survive will have to be replaced, as per permitting requirements. This will result in the fence remaining in place for a longer period of time."
The City of Vernon has a list of dog-friendly parks, trails, and beaches on its website. The website includes details about which sites allow dogs off-leash. Some of the dog-friendly locations include:
• Marshall Field Park (6601 Okanagan Landing Rd.);
• Mutrie Road Park (east end of 43rd Avenue and right turn onto Mutrie Rd.);
• Mission Hill Park (3900 15th Ave.);
• Carlson Park (6554 Bench Row Rd.);
• The Grey Canal Trail;
• Middleton Mountain Park and Trails;
• Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park pet beach;
• Ellison Provincial Park sandy (pet) beach;
The sediment pond project in Upper BX Creek is intended to manage the sediment deposition along BX Creek, significantly reducing pressure on key crossings and reducing the risk of flooding downstream.
