THUNDER BAY — The City of Thunder Bay and Friends of Chippewa Park aim to see the removal of the breakwall at Chippewa by the spring of 2021.
It's expected to result in improved water circulation and water quality near the main beach, which has often been closed in recent years due to high E. coli bacteria counts.
The city has just issued a Request for Proposals from consulting engineering firms interested in overseeing the project.
Ian Angus, spokesperson for the Friends of Chippewa, said Monday the cost of removing the wooden boardwalk and the armour stones which make up the breakwall will be "well in excess of a million" dollars.
That could be covered by federal and provincial grants, Angus has stated previously, "without having to go to the property taxpayer."
Provincial funding of $75,000 has already been provided for the engineering design work, and applications for capital funding are in progress.
The boardwalk sustained heavy damage in a severe storm in October 2019.
It had already been closed off by the city because Lake Superior's high water level has caused significant erosion where the breakwall meets land.
The same storm destroyed a wooden retaining wall the Friends of Chippewa installed along the beach in 2003.
Removing the breakwall will allow its armour stones to be relocated to stabilize the shoreline.
The city's RFP notes "this work when complete is to improve the water circulation and water quality of the main beach area, stabilize an eroding shoreline and enhance the fish habitat of the beach area, which in turn will help address issues with both the beach closings and degraded fish habitat."
Angus said he hopes the work will begin this fall, with completion by the spring of 2021, in time for the park's 100th anniversary celebrations.
