Winnipeg's pooch population is about to land some prime real estate.

Mayor Brian Bowman was on hand Friday morning to announce Bonnycastle Park on Assiniboine Avenue has been selected as the location for a new downtown off-leash dog park, an item that was on Bowman's campaign to-do list in 2014.

Construction on the 0.15-hectare park will begin in September. The park, which was among seven sites considered, will have perimeter fencing, internal fencing to separate large and small dogs, and a variety of agility elements. Lighting will also be installed at the park that rests near the Assiniboine river walk.

Bowman said the park will be within the $300,000 cost council previously budgeted.

"It was part of the overall package of downtown revitalization and certainly one that I feel strongly about," he said. "One in six households have pets, and what I was hearing from residents when I was working downtown and during the campaign was 'We want more amenities like they have in the suburbs.'"

The park is nestled between a number of apartment blocks and is just down the street from condo developments like 300 Assiniboine.

"We want to make sure that downtown living is an easier option for people that are considering it," he said.

"... Through public consultation, what we heard loud and clear was this made sense."

Bowman, who Thursday spoke at a Canada Games announcement trumpeting the Sport for Life building that is going up on Pacific Avenue as another boost to downtown, once again trumpeted the growth and development of the area.

"Downtown is booming," he said. "The growth has been staggering and it's a result of continuing to look for ways to make it an even more attractive site for visitors as well as residents."

While Bowman celebrated the addition of the dog park as an important amenity, downtown residents have continually called for a grocery store option in the area, something Bowman said is still on his radar. But the mayor said the city is not considering offering any type of financial incentives to grocers to move into downtown.

"There are some grocery options right now. I'd like to see more and I'd like to see a more full-service, larger grocery store than we have," he said. "... We obviously want to see that happen and we want to see it happen sooner rather than later."