Accessibility committee takes closer look at NYP extension plans

A site plan for the King’s Navy Yard Park extension was reviewed by the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee last week.

The accessibility advisory committee had a look at contract drawings and site plans for the King’s Navy Yard Park extension.

The committee offered comments on the extension, also known as the former Duffy’s property, with drawings showing a semi-circle pathway around the northern part of the property that leads to the waterfront, with a pathway along the shoreline. There are two entrance points off of Dalhousie St., with one being towards the northern part of the site and the other on the far southern portion of the site.

Director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon went over the drawings with the committee.

“This phase is Phase 1b,” explained Baillargeon. “In Phase 1a, we addressed the breakwall and the shoreline that was needing  stabilization. In this particular phase, we’re addressing accessible walkways that come in from Dalhousie St. into the site itself.”

There are a number of challenges that have to be overcome, noting that cleanup and soil were required by the Ministry of the Environment.

A service entrance is at the south end of the site, which is also accessible for patrons, that comes to the riverfront. Another walkway at the waterfront “connects the park together.”

“These are accessible walkways that will make the park accessible to the public,” she said. “They’ll access the entire waterfront as it connects to Navy Yard Park.”

Baillargeon said there will be two colours of concrete in the site and that the hard surface runs all the way along the waterfront.

“At this point in time, there are a lot of phases to this park in terms of future buildout,” she said. “For right now, in terms of budget, we’re doing site remediation in terms of taking contaminated soil offsite and disposing of it and putting in all the underground site servicing in. It’s things most people won’t generally see but cost a lot of money. It’s all the servicing for future electrical requirements for this site, future sanitary storm connections, water, gas, all the things needed to develop the site.”

The site will be graded, have trees, and the walkway will be installed.

Committee member Christine Easterbrook noted the drawings show steps near the top of the circular walkway and wanted more details on that. Baillargeon said the walkway that connects from Dalhousie St. goes to around the park but the “transition” near the steps comes with a banding that lets people know there is a transition.

Baillargeon can either choose to come down a series of stairs in the middle to come down to the water or follow the ramps by going left or right and leads to the water. The paths are AODA compliant, she said.

There are spaces in the extension where tents could be set up to host festivals, Baillargeon said, and the semi-circle comes with food truck hookups in case some are invited to attend that area.

Committee member Tony Pietrangelo asked where the nearest accessible parking spot is, with Baillargeon stating there is one near Flow Café just north of the park extension. Future phases call for angle parking along that section of Dalhousie St. in front of the extension.

“When Dalhousie gets reconstructed, we are planning on taking where the property line is and bumping that in to have angled parking all the way along the roadway so we can have parking for the site,” said Baillargeon. “It’s not part of this particular project at this point. We don’t have the money to do that right now.”

Councillor Don McArthur took note of a circular space in the centre of the larger semi-circle walkway. Baillargeon said that was scheduled to be a feature with discussions with the Indigenous community about honouring the Three Fires Confederacy. It will be a garden area in the beginning with the hope of putting in a sculpture piece to pay tribute to the Indigenous community.

McArthur also asked about accessible benches and Baillargeon said those benches will be located throughout the park.

Fishing was another topic addressed, with McArthur pointing out the new section of park is right next to the designated fishing area in King’s Navy Yard Park. Baillargeon said fishing could be accommodated and it could be allowed in the area, adding there is a pier that could go into the water when a marina is built. The latter part is also a future phase, she stated.

Accessibility committee takes closer look at NYP extension plans

By Ron Giofu