THUNDER BAY — Advocates for north-core businesses are giving the thumbs up to ongoing changes to the north-side waterfront, including a redesign of Marina Park’s festival area.
The city publicly unveiled the dramatic changes coming to the outdoor public event space at Prince Arthur’s Landing at an International Trails Day event earlier in June. It’s part of a slate of efforts to revitalize the city’s lakefront after decades of industrial use.
“It's fantastic to see the city investing in the area,” said Kara Pratt, the executive director of the Waterfront District BIA.
“The building of Marina Park was really the first stage, and now the improvements that are coming along, and the underground work that's happening in the area, is really just making the space more of a destination for locals and tourists.”
The festival area isn’t the only work in progress. Work continues on public lands at the Pool 6 site just south of the marina, which is also where cruise ships are now docking. Nearby, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery’s new home remains under construction and is now slated to open in 2027, after cost increases and the need for more fundraising on the gallery’s part pushed that date back.
Science North has also announced it will build a new science centre along the waterfront.
The redevelopment of the Pool 6 site alone could net the city over $15 million in taxes, according to a summary report from a best-use study by the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission.
Over the past decade and a half, roughly, the nearby downtown north core has seen a steady bounce-back as a culinary and entertainment district after years of decline as a shopping destination. Continued development in the north core and along the waterfront is always a welcome sight, Pratt said.
She said the more there is to draw people to the waterfront area, the more people there are who may check out nearby businesses.
“The wonderful thing is we have a parkade in our area, it’s a great place for people to park,” she said. “We also have a lot of parking in the vicinity, so, (it) brings a lot of people through the waterfront district.”
“And I know people that live in the area and walk down to Live on the Waterfront, the Wake the Giant festival — anything that's happening in the area.”
Pratt said the area is being used to its potential.
“It's great to see more potential for that space, or the space actually being used to its potential,” Pratt said. “The more draw that comes through the waterfront district, the better.”
“The more eyes that we have on our businesses, the more people that walk through the doors, the more support for the small businesses, the restaurants, the retailers, the better.
