Any time you can add a recreational facility to your community, it is going to enhance the lives of many.
Such is the case for the proposed off-leash dog park.
The idea is certainly still in its infancy, and is likely at least a few years away.
However, as both the recreation board and town council have agreed in principle to explore the concept, an off-leash dog park is on its way towards being yet another facility for Taberites and visitors to enjoy.
What needs to be hammered out are the fine details, which will include the cost and whether the town lands next to trout pond along Highway 864 are indeed the ideal location.
Similar facilities in other communities have worked well but just this week, the issue of a fenced off-leash dog park in Calgary, which had become a bone of contention for local landowners,  came to a head.
Landowners in the area voted to take down the fence, after the park became a victim of its own success, and became simply too busy.
By selecting a piece of land away from residential areas, Taber has avoided that potential problem, and appears poised to join other southern Alberta communities like Fort Macleod and Lethbridge in offering a place to safely walk their dogs.
Incidents like a recent dog attack, where an animal was on leash but still managed to bite a local man who was walking home via Taber’s trail system, may also be avoided in the future, as dog owners  will have a better place to workout their animals.
While it is not an overly exciting project from an infrastructure point of view, like the impressive physical nature of the skatepark, for instance, an off-leash dog park would fill a need in this community.
The question now is whether is can be constructed in a cost-efficient manner, without stress on the town’s bottom line.