Possible opening date for KNYP extension revealed at parks & rec meeting
- Ron Giofu
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Amherstburg’s parks and recreation advisory committee reviewed accomplishments made throughout the term, but also got an updated on a long-awaited downtown project.
The committee learned during a presentation by director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon that the waterfront plaza, also known as the King’s Navy Yard Park extension on the former Duffy’s property, has a target date of Aug. 1 to open to the public.
Work is ongoing, she said, but the hope is that the work will be completed by the Civic Holiday weekend.
“I’m really excited to say we are in the homestretch of this waterfront plaza,” Baillargeon told the committee at its April 22 meeting.
Baillargeon said concrete will be poured consistently over the next three to four weeks, irrigation systems will be installed and retaining walls will be finalized in preparation for the opening. There will be a pad on the property for bands to play from, she added.
“The park is fully serviced for a future marina, a future amphitheatre, whatever the town wants to do down there,” she said.
The shoreline has been addressed, land has been cleaned and soil remediated, Baillargeon added. Sidewalks will lead from the street to a staircase or to ramps, with round pathways in a spoked pattern leading people to the waterfront.
There will be outlets that will enable food trucks to be able to enter and use the new parkland, she added. Baillargeon stated the town has worked with residents at the neighbouring Queen Charlotte Condominiums to address a grade differential.
“The site is looking great,” said Baillargeon. “We’re hoping to open it for the August long weekend.”
The report on the plaza came as part of an overall presentation on accomplishments that occurred from 2022-26. Baillargeon started with the Seniors Active Living Centre (SALC), with activities for seniors predominantly out of the building at 179 Victoria St. S. That building houses the Fort Malden Golden Age Club.
Baillargeon added there is seniors programming stemming from the provincial grant out of Amherstburg Community Services (ACS) and the Libro Centre.
“We do have to apply every year to keep this running, she said”
The town works with ACS on a Seniors Active Living Expo, this year’s event being May 29.
Holiday special events offered through the recreation department include Halloween, Christmas and Easter programs. Pathway to Potential funding is also received by the town to assist local youth, she indicated.
Beaudoin Park has seen a new pavilion, disc golf course, new playground and pathways, she continued, and the moving of the skateboard park to the Libro Centre.
The community gardens at the Amherstburg Community Hub have been “really popular,” she said, with a community grant helping with that. The Amherstburg Horticultural Society helped originally with the planting with herbs in the gardens being used by ACS in preparing meals.
Malden Centre Park has had a new shelter constructed and bleachers repaired. One of the five new playgrounds the town has had put in is there as well, and will be opened once grass around it comes in. There is “still lots of work to be done” at that park, including new washrooms and more. Other playgrounds are in Briar Ridge Park, Jack Purdie Park, Co-An Park and Warren Mickle Park. Warren Mickle Park is an “eco-park,” with a trails and trees with more trails proposed going forward. A new boardwalk stretching into the Big Creek watershed could also be coming forward in the future.
“There is tremendous bird watching in that park,” said Baillargeon. “We have people coming from all over to that park to view birds they can’t see anywhere else.”
King’s Navy Yard Park has seen upgrades to lighting and fencing, she noted, with more work planned for 2026. Cutoff lighting should be finished this year as “we wanted to preserve the night sky views” with fencing also wrapping up this year, according to plan.
Upgrades have occurred at the Alma St. parkette along the Detroit River, which have included shoreline improvements, with Baillargeon adding the “Hole in the Wall” picture frame was added at the north gateway, the latter being a project funded by the Windsor-Essex Community Foundation.
The WEBC trails were also highlighted, she said, with volunteers funding and building the cycling trails at the Libro Centre. The fourth phase, the skills park, is being built this year. Pat Thrasher Park was going to see a half-court basketball built but it is full court now thanks to work done internally, she said. The playground was also resurfaced, she added.
Jack Purdie Park saw a new trail system put in, with Baillargeon telling the committee it has seen the park get increased usage. The dog park at the Libro Centre was built with areas for large and small dogs.
The Canard Estates Wetland and Trails, built using a stormwater lagoon, has been utilized well in the McGregor subdivision. It has attracted new habitats, she added, with the Golfview lagoon trails and wetlands having done the same in that neighbourhood.
The pickleball courts were built at the Libro Centre with the Amherstburg Pickleball Association still fundraising for future amenities, she added, with a private group funding a cricket court in Anderdon Park.
The town’s new parks master plan was completed in November 2025, Baillargeon added, with the committee being thanked for its work. She said site plan and stormwater work is ongoing for upgrades to H. Murray Smith Centennial Park, which is planned for this year.
Possible opening date for KNYP extension revealed at parks & rec meeting
By Ron Giofu