FUTURE PLANS FOR ILE DU CHENAIL
Hawkesbury town council has a lot to digest from a consultant’s report on the possible future for the Île du Chenail and Confederation Park.
Sierra Planning and Management presented council with its 25-page summary report of the results of last autumn’s intensive review, including comments and recommendations from a public consultation process, on the possible future for all of the recreational and cultural facilities on the Île du Chenail. The goal of the review was to develop a general concept plan to aid the municipal with later decisions regarding improvement of existing facilities like Confederation Park on Île du Chenail, and developing new facilities.
The consultant’s document noted that the draft concept plan presented is just the start of what would be a long-term process for enhancing and adding to the recreational and cultural features of Île du Chenail.
“The concept plan presented within this report represents a high-level illustration of what is imagined as a long-term vision for Confederation Park (Île du Chenail),” stated the report. “The concept plan will need to be further refined through a schematic and detailed design process.”
Attractive features
The report noted the strongest and most attractive features of Île du Chenail are Confederation Park, the Chenail Cultural Centre, and the small boat launch and docking area on the west side of the island. Some of the proposed ideas for future enhancement of Île du Chenail include expanding the marine attraction of the island to include an angler’s area, including opportunities for dock fishing that would complement the existing shoreline fishing that already takes place. Improvement of the docking area, including better boat-trailer parking and realignment of the boat launch ramp are also recommended.
Development of an urban beach area along a shoreline section of Confederation Park is another suggestion in the report, with an adjacent on-the-water activities area suitable for paddleboat or canoe rentals. A limited amount of commercial activity that supports seasonal tourism is also suggested, in the form of temporary concession stands or designated food truck sites.
One key future development recommendation in the report is a boardwalk connection from Hawkesbury’s downtown area across the narrow strait to the Confederation Park area of Île du Chenail. Complementing the boardwalk connection would be pedestrian walk circling along the park shoreline.
More work
Parts of the shoreline of Île du Chenail, the report noted, suffer from erosion and seasonal spring flooding, and there are “significant fish habitats located around the entire shoreline of Confederation Park” that need protection as part of any future community and tourism enhancement of the area.
The report recommended that council and administration look at “quick win” smallscale enhancements for Île du Chenail, like LED lighting to highlight some of the existing features of the area while working on a longterm development plan. Such a plan would include engineering studies for shoreline stabilization to reduce or eliminate erosion, and also for creating and maintaining an urban beach area. Environmental assessments on fish habitats and other natural feature attractions are also recommended.