Richardson Beach in Macdonald Memorial Park is a favourite destination along the Kingston waterfront. Improvements to the 0.5 hectare beach area were identified as the top priority in the Waterfront Master Plan, which was approved by Council on March 22, 2016. The proposed works include improved access to the beach and water; better lookout points; provision of overlook seating and gathering spaces; and shoreline improvements. To date, we have garnered public and stakeholder feedback through multiple open houses, online commentary and survey results, as well as meetings with the First Nations and windsurfing communities. Project challenges include technical constraints such as wave action, shoreline slopes, and fluctuating water levels, as well as designing the site to accommodate multiple user groups in a harmonious way.
In association to the shoreline work, the historic Richardson Bathhouse, also located in Macdonald Memorial Park, will be upgraded and made accessible for all members of the community. The building works are scheduled to be undertaken in 2018 as part of a separate contract. Our design work for the landscape improvements began in 2017 with inventory and analysis and schematic design; contract documents will be completed in spring 2019 working closely with Shoreplan Engineering. Implementation is expected in 2020.
