Posted with permission from the Hamilton Spectator
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May 21, 2015
Hamilton Spectator
By Bob Mitchell
A world-class year-round lakeside park will rise along Burlington's waterfront over the next 20 to 25 years, according to a plan presented to regional council committee members.
The plan, which is projected to cost more than $51 million, has been nearly a decade in the making and will cover about three kilometres from Spencer Smith Park to the Burlington Canal on the Hamilton border.
It will include six distinct areas, developed in two phases, which will be connected through trails, boardwalks and bike paths.
A reconfiguration of Lakeshore Road is also being proposed in order to create one continuous public park.
"This is an absolute gold mine ..." said regional chair Gary Carr. "This resource is located nowhere else. If we don't do it right, one of the legacies of this council will be that we didn't do what we were supposed to do when we were supposed to do it."
Final approval for the plan - officially called the Master Plan for the Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park - will be discussed at the regional council meeting May 27.
The committee heard that the first five areas will be developed within five to 10 years and will cost about $31 million. The price includes hydro tower relocation - which Hydro One estimated in 2013 would cost between $8 and $12 million - and property acquisition. A further $20 million will be needed to develop the last phase.
"This is an extraordinary destination within the City of Burlington, the region and the province," said Matt Reid, project manager for the proposed redevelopment.
He described it as a "bold, environmentally sustainable vision" that will become a destination point for the local residents, tourists, and cultural events and will generate significant economic benefit for the city, the region and the province.
The plan was developed by a consultant team led by internationally-recognized BrookMcIllroy and the region has had extensive consultation with the City of Burlington and Conservation Halton over the past 18 months.
"Our great quality of life will only be enhanced by further investment in this for generations to come," said Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring, adding that it's "a great project."
The six proposed areas are:
•Spencer Smith Park: It will stay a formal park and a primary festival and event destination. It includes the Brant Street Pier, an upgraded promenade, new lighting and special event space.
•The Living Shoreline: Immediately next to Spencer Smith, the area connects the formal park with natural aspects of Burlington Beach. Its will include a First Nations Interpretation Area and an Aboriginal gas fire circle gathering place. There will also be a new shoreline boardwalk.
•The Strand: A traditional beach and swimming area with children's play and water-theme play areas, outdoor exercise areas and bicycle repair stations.
•The Wind Beach: A natural and educational area with beach access and a dune boardwalk and trails.
•The Commons: It will be used for small-scale cultural, festival events and includes an artisan marketplace. Lakeshore Road will be reconfigured. Volleyball courts and lawn bowling facilities will be here, along with a pond for remote control boating in the summer and skating in the winter. There will also be a patio over the water. It will be the last to be developed.
•The Skyway and Federal Pier: It includes an active lift bridge and various marine interpretive areas and observation areas for Great Lakes ships entering the Burlington Canal. There will also be a direct cycling connection to Hamilton and upgrades to the federal pier.
Phase 1 includes properties under public ownership, so construction can begin as soon as the region gives the green light.
Phase 2 will begin once the 27 remaining residential properties are purchased over the next 20 to 25 years. Four properties have already been purchased.
Committee members heard the region will have opportunities to change and scale-down the plan as it goes forward.
Additional financial details will be presented at council with another major update in July. One of the big concerns is who will pay for the hydro tower relocation.
If regional council approves the plan, the financials would be discussed as part of the 2016 budget.
Oakville Beaver
_________________________________________________
May 21, 2015
Hamilton Spectator
By Bob Mitchell
A world-class year-round lakeside park will rise along Burlington's waterfront over the next 20 to 25 years, according to a plan presented to regional council committee members.
The plan, which is projected to cost more than $51 million, has been nearly a decade in the making and will cover about three kilometres from Spencer Smith Park to the Burlington Canal on the Hamilton border.
It will include six distinct areas, developed in two phases, which will be connected through trails, boardwalks and bike paths.
A reconfiguration of Lakeshore Road is also being proposed in order to create one continuous public park.
"This is an absolute gold mine ..." said regional chair Gary Carr. "This resource is located nowhere else. If we don't do it right, one of the legacies of this council will be that we didn't do what we were supposed to do when we were supposed to do it."
Final approval for the plan - officially called the Master Plan for the Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park - will be discussed at the regional council meeting May 27.
The committee heard that the first five areas will be developed within five to 10 years and will cost about $31 million. The price includes hydro tower relocation - which Hydro One estimated in 2013 would cost between $8 and $12 million - and property acquisition. A further $20 million will be needed to develop the last phase.
"This is an extraordinary destination within the City of Burlington, the region and the province," said Matt Reid, project manager for the proposed redevelopment.
He described it as a "bold, environmentally sustainable vision" that will become a destination point for the local residents, tourists, and cultural events and will generate significant economic benefit for the city, the region and the province.
The plan was developed by a consultant team led by internationally-recognized BrookMcIllroy and the region has had extensive consultation with the City of Burlington and Conservation Halton over the past 18 months.
"Our great quality of life will only be enhanced by further investment in this for generations to come," said Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring, adding that it's "a great project."
The six proposed areas are:
•Spencer Smith Park: It will stay a formal park and a primary festival and event destination. It includes the Brant Street Pier, an upgraded promenade, new lighting and special event space.
•The Living Shoreline: Immediately next to Spencer Smith, the area connects the formal park with natural aspects of Burlington Beach. Its will include a First Nations Interpretation Area and an Aboriginal gas fire circle gathering place. There will also be a new shoreline boardwalk.
•The Strand: A traditional beach and swimming area with children's play and water-theme play areas, outdoor exercise areas and bicycle repair stations.
•The Wind Beach: A natural and educational area with beach access and a dune boardwalk and trails.
•The Commons: It will be used for small-scale cultural, festival events and includes an artisan marketplace. Lakeshore Road will be reconfigured. Volleyball courts and lawn bowling facilities will be here, along with a pond for remote control boating in the summer and skating in the winter. There will also be a patio over the water. It will be the last to be developed.
•The Skyway and Federal Pier: It includes an active lift bridge and various marine interpretive areas and observation areas for Great Lakes ships entering the Burlington Canal. There will also be a direct cycling connection to Hamilton and upgrades to the federal pier.
Phase 1 includes properties under public ownership, so construction can begin as soon as the region gives the green light.
Phase 2 will begin once the 27 remaining residential properties are purchased over the next 20 to 25 years. Four properties have already been purchased.
Committee members heard the region will have opportunities to change and scale-down the plan as it goes forward.
Additional financial details will be presented at council with another major update in July. One of the big concerns is who will pay for the hydro tower relocation.
If regional council approves the plan, the financials would be discussed as part of the 2016 budget.
Oakville Beaver