Planning For The Future Of Windsor’s Amazing Riverfront
Monday September 9th, 2013, 11:00am
Hello time traveller!!
This article is 4086 days old.
The information listed below is likely outdated and has been preserved for archival purposes.
The City of Windsor is poised to undertake a review of its Central Riverfront plan and create a path for future riverfront improvements.
A number of years back, the City of Windsor created the Central Riverfront Implementation Plan, an enhancement to the existing trails and attractions along the riverfront. If you are familiar with the Peace Beacon or the Mayor Bert Weeks Memorial fountain, these were part of this concept.
The CRIP plan, which has been somewhat implemented over the past ten years, is broken down into five beacons, within nine small segments, with attractions that include:
- a marina with restaurant
- riverfront wind generators
- a viewing balcony on top of Hiram Walker’s grain silos
- an outdoor amphitheater/assembly plaza
- a fishing pier with fishing stations
- an artisans workshop
- a firefighter memorial
- public basketball & tennis courts
- bicycle racks every 30m along the course
- a mist wall
- volleyball courts
- a childrens garden
- skate park
- a wildflower and native species garden
- a “Walkerville Recreationway” — a trail through Walkerville connecting to the river
The Celestial Beacon.
The Legacy Beacon.
The Dawn Beacon.
Proposed plan for Walkerville, in the area of Hiram Walker’s, and the Walker Power Building.
The Central Riverfront Implementation Plan won four awards in the early 2000s, including:
- Canadian Society of Landscape Architects 2003 National Merit Award
- Ontario Professional Planners Excellence in Planning Award
- Canadian Institute of Planners Honour Award
- Waterfront Centre 2001 Top Honours Award
City Councillors will be asked tonight to approve up to $150,000 in funding to conduct a 3-4 month review of the plan and look at the following:
- connectivity of public and private lands south of Riverside Drive
- pedestrian access, at grade above or below grades,
- water features, canal features
- commercial opportunities on the riverfront
- review development opportunities on the south side of Riverside Drive
- review use of former rail cuts
- location of beacons, comfort stations, washrooms
- marina concept location
- review number of dedicated traffic lanes on Riverside Drive
- walkability of Riverside Drive
- tree coverage on waterfront
- need for lighting
- need for family features on or near the riverfront
