OHSF: Waterfront Developments

WATERFRONToronto (formerly the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation) is in the process of planning Lake Ontario Park, a project that could dramatically change the Outer Harbour.

Most existing boating clubs would be moved. Those on the North Shore would move back at least 30 metres from the water’s edge to make way for a new public boardwalk and beach.

We have several concerns with the plan. These include:

1. Safety, liability & practicality. Moving back from the water’s edge means boaters and other park users will have to share common shoreline, creating problems during launch and retrieval of boats. The plan also increases the distance that elderly, very young, or disabled members will have to carry their boats to and from the water.

2. Location. Moving us to the east means that our grounds will no longer have a view of the Outer Harbour, where we have spotted boaters in trouble and made many rescues over the years. The new location may also make our club less suitable for catamarans.

3. Infilling of the harbour. The proposal calls for up to 10 metres of infill along the new beach, which will make an already congested area even more crowded. Toronto has a long history of infilling its harbours. Less water does not bode well for boating.