Pedestrians on Port Dalhousie piers will be able to sit
‘It’s so important we are able to sit at the end and enjoy the view’
Concrete or other heavy-duty seating will added to the new Port Dalhousie west pier to give pedestrians a place to rest.
“It is a long way out there. It’s approximately a full kilometre, one way,” said Port Dalhousie Coun. Carlos Garcia, who’s walked the stretch and said people who are older or have accessibility needs would find it hard.
“It’s a very difficult situation to walk all the way out there and not have a place to rest either in between or at the end.”
The piers, which extend into Lake Ontario, used to be dotted with 44 wooden memorial benches that were relocated by the city when the federal government closed the piers for safety issues in 2015.
When the piers were reopened this June after a rehabilitation of more than $26 million by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, there were no new benches to be found past the water line.
“We have this amazing facility and it’s so important we are able to sit at the end and enjoy the view,” said Garcia, who asked that benches be installed.
Council agreed to spend $42,000 for 12 benches, at about $3,500 each. But unlike the former benches, they will be permanent structures made out of concrete or other hardy material.
The former benches had to be stored each winter due to the significant storm damage that would occur.
“The benches that were situated on the piers were ones that needed to be addressed on a regular basis,” said Phil Cristi, director of community, recreation and culture services.
“They needed to be removed over the winter so the ice wouldn’t damage them, and then they had to be replaced in the spring so people could use them again.”
But while removing the benches each year protected them, it didn’t help the piers.
Acting CAO David Oakes said every time the benches were taken out, water would get into the anchor holes and compromise the pier itself.
Oakes said the decision was made to not install something similar when the new piers were completed because it could potentially damage them in the long term. Instead, Oakes told council there are other options for benches that may not have to be removed, such as those made of concrete.
The city may be cautious of doing anything to damage the piers going forward because Fisheries and Oceans Canada plans to transfer ownership to the municipality. Council agreed to the transfer in 2018— subject to successful negotiations after the piers were fixed — in an effort to get the federal government to commit to funding and fixing the piers faster.
Oakes said those negotiations are still forthcoming.
The new seating will not have memorial plaques or sponsorships out of respect for families whose memorial benches were removed.
The date for the installation of new seating is not yet known.