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But the unease that marks the relationship between dog owners and those who resent how every sliver of inner-city green space is co-opted as a pee pad is as contentious as any of the above.

A note from Matt Guerin about the decline of Arena Gardens, on Mutual Street, north of Queen Street, from overuse by dog owners who reside in the concrete jungle surrounding it, is an apt illustration.

Guerin, who lives in a nearby condo, said the Arena Gardens site was the first home of the 色色啦 Maple Leafs (and later a roller skating rink called the Terrace) and 鈥渦sed to be a lovely parkette鈥� with a kids play area, until it was co-opted by dog people.

He noted that the immediate area 鈥渋s now dominated by new (condo) towers, along with hundreds of new residents and new dogs. Since there is no other green space anywhere in the block 鈥� dog owners and their dogs overuse Arena Gardens.

鈥淎s a result, the urine damage in Arena Gardens has over time destroyed most of the green grass, and what’s left is dirt patches that are also frequently covered in dog excrement that owners don’t bother to pick up. It is unsightly and gross and an embarrassment.鈥�

He added that the city 鈥渁ttempted to reseed Arena Gardens last year but of course the new grass didn’t take as dog owners continue to bring their dogs to urinate all over the park. It seems the soil is largely ruined by all the urine and the solution isn’t to reseed.鈥�

Guerin also noted that there鈥檚 a dog area at nearby Moss Park, 鈥渂ut few dog owners seem to wish to take that trek across Jarvis (Street) just so their pets can take a pee.鈥�

I went there and was dismayed by the absence of greenery. A from 2011 shows the grounds covered with bushes and shrubs. Subsequent images show the gradual denuding of the parkette, as condos sprung up around it.

Signs have been posted that say 鈥淧lease keep dogs out of garden beds,鈥� (what beds?) which have obviously been ignored.

STATUS: I sent a note to the city, asking if anything can be done to deter dog owners, and if there鈥檚 a plan to rehabilitate the parkette. Here鈥檚 the reply:

鈥淒ogs are welcome in the city of 色色啦鈥檚 more than 1,500 parks and the city remains committed to ensuring these shared spaces remain enjoyable for all.

鈥淎t Arena Gardens, signage reminds dog owners to help preserve the horticulture by keeping pets out of the garden bed. Residents are also reminded that there is a nearby Off-Leash Area, located just a 10-minute walk away.

鈥淐ity staff will begin a previously planned turf restoration in the coming weeks to help address damage. The city recognizes the need for a longer-term solution and is exploring improvements, including the expansion of off-leash dog parks.

鈥淭he city will continue to monitor park use and manage these spaces to balance the diverse ways residents can use them.鈥�

All that sounds swell, but until dog owners are incentivized to find another space, it鈥檚 unlikely that anything will make a difference.