Update – Canatara Park Emerging Preferred Concept

The public can now view the Emerging Preferred Concept for the Canatara Park Master Plan. While the plan continues to remain under development, Council was presented with an updated emerging preferred concept at its July 8, 2024 meeting.

The concept reflects the input of thousands of residents across multiple touchpoints including an online survey, two public information sessions held July 2, emails and telephone calls.

The initial three options for the park have now been combined to into a single emerging preferred concept that balances protection of the park’s unique beach dune and other ecosystems, alongside event and recreation uses while maintaining the space as a public park with beachfront parking and drive through access.

The emerging preferred concept includes five distinct zones:

1. A Beach Zone with beachfront parking, an expanded dune area with boardwalk, new lifeguard station / washrooms, beach volleyball, etc
2. A Lake Zone with Lake Chipican lookouts and boardwalk; existing animal farm; new farm-themed play area, etc.
3. An Event Zone with existing lawn area, paths and picnicking along the forest edge, new covered stage / pavilion, new plaza area, new parking lot, etc.
4. A Meadow Zone with new multi-purpose lawn area; new shade structure / welcome pavilion; new nature education centre / day camp; educational gardens; existing BMX track; etc.
5. A Forest Zone featuring new trail hierarchy, tree canopy walk, forest management plan, cycling loop, etc.

VIEW THE EMERGING PREFERED CONCEPT

The Canatara Park Master Plan remains under development. Share your comments on this plan via email to parksandrecreation@sarnia.ca

Don’t forget to subscribe via the Subscription Widget on this page for updates as we work to finalize a draft master plan for submission to Council.

Council Direction

While the plan continues to remain under development, Council has approved three requests for specific items to be included in the Canatara Park Master Plan.

Specifically, Council approved the inclusion of beach volleyball courts and a storage building for the Seaway Kiwanis Club to be included in the final iteration of the plan. Council also approved removal of the existing, aging Thrasher building (the barn-like building with interior picnic seating just south of the Animal Farm), with plans to replace the amenity with seating and shade options.

Read the Council presentation

Read the Council report