Sunset Beach drawings unveiled
Conceptual plans show options for improving the beach and surrounding area
The future of Sunset Beach could include a sun shelter, a two-level playground, more parking and paid parking if residents want the features added.
The city and architectural firm OMC Landscape Architecture unveiled conceptual plans to get public feedback for the St. Catharines north-end park at an open house Wednesday night.
About 50 people checked out the concept drawings on easels at Port Weller Community Centre and put red dot stickers on the options they liked best for various proposed features.
“They’re really designed for discussion purposes,” said Jessica Button, St. Catharines project and development planner, explaining some features may be included in a final design and others may not.
“Our final plan will be a mix of option A, option B and some other feedback we receive.”
The city held an information session on Aug. 28 to get ideas from citizens about what they like about the park and what changes they’d like to see. Button said about 85 people attended that meeting and 400 responded online.
The conceptual plans on display Wednesday were designed based on that feedback.
More shade, for instance, was one feature people said they wanted in the park, as shade trees in the beach area are in high demand in the summer.
The architects added sun shelter options to the conceptual plans, which also include designs for the north parking and boat launch and the main parking area.
One option for the main parking lot has 61 parking spaces, while the second has 95 spaces but would require removing several trees and doing replanting elsewhere. Both options would have four accessible parking spots as well.
Button said one of the biggest
changes at the park in the conceptual plans would be a playground on two levels. That option would use the natural slope on the site to create upper and lower features and incorporate natural materials and stone terracing.
“It’s tying together the natural beach feel,” Button said, adding residents have said they view Sunset Beach as a more natural beach and Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie as more urban. “They don’t want Lakeside Park at Sunset Beach.”
The conceptual plans will be posted on the city’s website at www.stcatharines.ca/ Plan Your Park. Citizens are asked to provide feedback by Dec. 31.
A final concept will be ready in the first quarter of next year.
In addition to the conceptual plans, Marianne Mokrycke, landscape architect with OMC, said they also want to know if citizens would consider paid parking at Sunset Beach.
The options include paying for parking just near the boat launch, paying for parking at the whole park or free parking.