THUNDER BAY -- A $47 million plan could open up and transform land on the city's waterfront.
City council will see three reports Monday that plan the future for land South of Pearl Street, the Prince Arthur's Landing festival area and looks at options for more boat slips in the area.
The most ambitious report highlights a two-phased $41 million plan to transform 17 hectares of land near Pool 6 and the tugboat basin, a vision over the next 20 years.
Accessible trails, a mix of pavement, gravel and a meandering boardwalk would feature throughout the land. A nordic spa and even an apple orchard are all part of the plan.
A 1.8 hectare chunk of that land West of Pool 6, dubbed the Three Hills Forest, would have three hills built and connected by bridges surrounded by a 500-metre channel of water.
That water would be used as a skating trail in the winter.
The hills would hold a BMX track and trails. Pool 6 itself would host a soccer-pitch sized field surrounded by a trail with landscaping to block wind. The current offices there would be used as the waterfront's administration and see an extension built for an interpretive centre.
As for the tugboat basin, a separate report says it shouldn't be used for more boat slips like a previous master plan from 2006 suggested. Archaeological constraints have pushed costs up to around $91,000 per slip and restrict public uses for the area.
Instead the basin should be used for non-motorized boating and the city should keep looking at other sites, some of which are highlighted in the report but only viable if funding is there.
The festival area would be a $6.1 million upgrade that would see the stage moved to the north of the area where the playground is. The playground would be moved south of the are. Food truck hookups would be installed near Sleeping Giant Parkway.
