Thiole Garden: Henry-Jean Servat opens the door to a compromise on the presence of dogs

After residents mobilizing against the ban on dogs in Thiole Garden, in Nice, Henry-Jean Servat wishes to engage in discussions with residents. The deputy mayor in charge of animal welfare wants to study several solutions to allow cohabitation between the different uses of the park.

The Thiole Garden issue continues to generate reactions in the Libération neighborhood. For several days, some residents, supported by the Stéphane Lamart association, have been asking the City of Nice to allow leashed dogs in the park again. Facing this mobilization, the deputy mayor in charge of animal welfare, Henry-Jean Servat, announces he wants to open discussions in order to study different solutions.

The elected official recalls that the ban is based on a regulatory constraint. Part of the Thiole Villa Garden is attached to residential buildings and classified as a children’s play area. As a reminder, the expansion completed in February 2026 added more than 1,000 m² to this area.

“All of this area is considered a children’s zone,” explains Henry-Jean Servat. In the absence of physical separation between spaces, this classification currently prohibits the presence of dogs, even on a leash, throughout the entire garden.

The deputy also assures that he was not directly contacted by the mobilized residents. “Nobody called me,” states Henry-Jean Servat, who says he is available to organize a meeting at the earliest opportunity.

Several scenarios discussed to advance the issue

Among the proposed options is the creation of a separation between the different areas of the garden. This arrangement would allow for a reserved area for children while allowing dogs in another part of the park. Henry-Jean Servat wants to test a light-weight system such as the installation of bollards or stakes linked by strings or ribbons to delimit an area for animals and a zone for children before considering more substantial modifications.

Another option would be to reserve the entire Thiole Garden for children and to develop a dedicated space for dogs nearby. According to the deputy, several locations could be studied. The installation of dog parks in the area is also part of the proposals as, to his knowledge, “there are no dog parks at Thiole.”

Henry-Jean Servat also announces strict enforcement of cleanliness rules: “Zero tolerance for people who don’t clean up. We will be uncompromising on such matters,” warns the official, who mentions fines in case of violations.

This issue is not new. Henry-Jean Servat now wishes to resume discussions with residents in order to assess the feasibility of the different scenarios. “I would like to see if there is really a possibility to do, to develop, to divide the area,” explains the deputy.

The mobilized residents and the Stéphane Lamart association continue, for their part, to demand the return of leashed dogs to the park. The proposals put forward by the deputy must now be the subject of discussions with residents. “We will find solutions,” concludes Henry-Jean Servat, determined to promote cohabitation between children and dogs. A commitment that reflects his advocacy for animal welfare for many years.