New surface for the promenade to get put in place during the summer - a shade structure will be added in the west end of what is formally called the Naval Promenade.

By Pepper Parr

April 11th, 2017

BURLINGTON, ON

Work begins on Spencer Smith Park Promenade improvements

The Gazebo we knew and loved is gone – replaced by something that looks like it came out of an assemble-it-yourself kit. I suppose we will get used to it.

It was small, in-accessible but it had character. The tree trunk stumps that were once magnificent willow tress that were planted by the man for whom the park was named after. Even the trunks were removed.

The willow trees went with it. All part of improvements being made to Spencer Smith Park and the beginning of the implementation of the Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park Master Plan, which includes both Spencer Smith and Beachway Parks,

The new gazebo – bigger – hard to say it is better.

The work is being done in two phases – the first was the upgraded gazebo at a new location; hard-surfaced walkway, pedestrian lighting and benches, tree and perennial planting then grading and drainage improvements.
The location of the old Gazebo was in a bit of a bowl of land that did have poor drainage.

Phase 2 will see a re-surfacing on the promenade, a new shade structure at the cobble beach and concrete surfacing at the seating nodes.

The promenade surface replacement with new asphalt will upgrade the surface to an accessible pathway that is smooth, durable and suitable for walking, cycling and use by mobility devices, such as wheelchairs.

A dashed centre line will be painted down the centre, which is the current industry standard for a multi-use path, to provide separation based on the direction of travel. This is the same principle as driving on the road where you keep to the right and allow faster traffic to pass on the left.

So much for a pleasant stroll.

The new shade structure is at that point where Spencer Smith Park becomes the Beachway; once a community of more than 200 homes, many of which would not meet the building code today.

Spencer Smith Park will stay open during the construction, with sections of the promenade closed from April to December 2017. The closures will happen in phases to allow annual major festivals and events, such as the Sound of Music Festival and Canada’s Largest Ribfest, to use the park to host their events.

The Regional government is part of the planning and design work for a project that was very controversial because it eventually leads to the destruction of all the homes currently in the Beachway Park.

The first public showing of the plans for the Beachway that will change the way the public uses the park.

While the long term plan to re-develop the Beachway Park is grand and involves many stages it brings to an end a part of the city that once defined a large part of the Burlington character. There are no plans to keep any of the housing or to leave any sense of the city’s heritage.

The price of progress!