Major Investments Coming To Point Pelee National Park

Hello time traveller!!
This article is 3198 days old.
The information listed below is likely outdated and has been preserved for archival purposes.

Point Pelee National Park as seen on this Leamington Marina map

Major infrastructure investments totaling over $11 million in several projects across Point Pelee National Park were announced Wednesday.

Work includes $840,000 to enhance the park’s overnight experience offer through upgrades and redevelopment to better meet the needs of current and potential visitors, and increase revenue and visitation.

$2 million will be spent to repair and recapitalize the main road in Point Pelee National Park by improving the park’s bike trail, addressing visitor safety concerns in high traffic areas, and increasing conservation gains by burying utility lines under the road.

Northwest Beach Renewal will see $2.8 million is work that will restore 8,000 square metres of dune habitat and increase the dune habitat in the park by 5% by reducing the footprint of the current parking lot.

Rehabilitate the park’s shoreline protection infrastructure including the breakwall that has been impacted by severe weather events and winter ice, resulting in the deterioration of the shoreline and loss of protected habitat and native species will see $1.4 million in work.  The renewed shoreline protection system including sand nourishment will help replenish the depleted sand stock along the western shore, reduce the loss of Species at Risk, and rare Lake Erie Sandspit Savannah, while stabilizing the trail that connects visitors to the most southern tip of mainland Canada – one of Point Pelee’s most iconic experiences.

$980,000 will be spent to rehabilitate the current Visitor Centre Theatre including the replacement of the roof and redesign the exterior landscaping to address drainage and foundation issues while improving visitor flow around the building. The audio-visual equipment will be upgraded enabling Point Pelee National Park to maintain its current menu of programs while providing opportunities for new program development.

Work on restoring Point Pelee National Park’s Savannah will cost $3 million and $346,000 will be spent on species at risk re-introduction.