After years of planning, construction and a brief delay to allow newly planted turf to take root, Amherstburg’s new Waterfront Festival Plaza is officially open.
Town officials, councillors and residents gathered Wednesday afternoon for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the former Duffy’s Tavern property on Dalhousie Street, marking the completion of the first phase of the waterfront redevelopment project.
The $3.06-million project included shoreline stabilization, retaining walls, lighting, landscaping, accessible pathways and underground servicing.
Director of Parks, Facilities and Recreation, Heidi Baillargeon, says electrical, drainage and other infrastructure has been installed to support planned additions in the years ahead.
“There’s been a lot of excitement about you know wanting to develop a future marina here, as well as the amphitheater, so, as council approves the various phases, and as funding becomes available, we’ll build the site out,” Baillargeon said.
She says accessibility was a priority throughout the design process.
“We are so happy and proud to present the accessibility features within this park. We have a ramp that goes from street level all the way down, and walkways that go all the way down from street level all the way to the waterfront,” she said.
The site expands King’s Navy Yard Park and is intended to serve as a destination for festivals, community gatherings and waterfront activities.
Baillargeon says its first major test is coming during this fall’s Uncommon Festival.
“That’ll be our first trial run to have a lot of different vendors down here. There will be food booths, there’ll be special events, face painting, all the things that go with our awesome Uncommon Fest, and this will be an expansion into this grounds here,” she said.
The property was purchased by the town in 2017 with plans to transform the former commercial site into public waterfront parkland.
Officials say the land was also remediated and cleaned up as part of the redevelopment before construction could proceed.