Council partners with Heritage North Bay

Folks who have ventured down to the North Bay waterfront as of late, note that there have been major upgrades and beatification projects completed.

The waterfront near Oak Street is almost complete and now boasts a lovely landscape. Swaths of green grass have been laid down, parking lots are almost all paved and their curbs set in, the light stands have been put into place and the foundation for the Pergola has been poured.

In addition, the underpass to the waterfront is done, showing off its elaborate stone work. It is obvious that the area has been transformed and people who have lived in the city for decades will soon forget its darkest days as a sand lot and surplus rail yard.

Now, the City must start thinking about the ongoing maintenance and operation of the park

On Monday night, City Council officials passed a resolution regarding the North Bay Waterfront, entering into an agreement with Heritage North Bay. This is the same board that governs the Heritage Gardeners, The Museum, the Heritage Railway and Carousel Company.

A clause in the new contract between the two parties stipulates that the city is to receive from the board a Business Plan and a ten year Capital Plan for the waterfront. The Heritage North Bay Board will be responsible for the maintenance of the park and the city will allocate funds to the Board which will be directed to do lawn maintenance, garbage pickup, and repairs that need to make on any piece of property in question.

Councillor Sean Lawlor says that this new resolution is important for a number of reasons; the most important being that, ultimately, council answers to the taxpayers. He says that it is their money that is used for this development and that council wants to ensure that everybody is on the same page, aware of what the plans are and how the money is being expended.

“By having a business plan and a 10-year Capital Plan, we'll be able to ensure that we can provide those answers,” says Lawlor.

The City is implementing the Community Waterfront Friends’ vision and Lawlor agrees with many that the Heritage Gardeners are doing a phenomenal job in maintaining the Waterfront for the city. Lawlor says that the city has been trying for a few years to implement a method to make it all happen put some form of governance into place. He says that the reason that the Heritage North Bay Board came into play is because they are all situated in that specific location.

“Really, it seemed like a perfect fit,” says Lawlor.

Back in 1920, the City's Official Plan was to connect the Waterfront to the downtown core. North Bay City Mayor, Al MacDonald, says that this is all been ninety one years in the making.

“Over time, one can see the investment that was put into building a beautiful and unique waterfront,” says MacDonald.

“I'm thrilled to see what it has become and I'm excited to be able to witness its completion.”