THUNDER BAY — The Waverley Lookout, located near a busy road but seldom used by the public, is getting an upgrade that may give it the higher profile it had when it was built over a century ago.
The lookout, owned by the city, is located on Red River Road near the top of the Waverley Street hill.
Built in 1911, its stonework and other components have deteriorated, but it will reopen this fall with about $300,000 worth of repairs and additions.
The restoration is also being undertaken in conjunction with the city's World War One 100th anniversary legacy project, and the city's Red River Road image route improvement initiative.
"It's really those three things all wrapped together," said Werner Schwar, the city's Supervisor of Parks and Open Space Planning,
The Year of the Poppy theme in last year's World War One commemoration will be integrated with the renovations.
Schwar described that component as a series of red, metal panels with cutout poppies which will be elevated above the lookout plaza.
"They will be at the height of the roof the lookout used to have, so you'll be able to see those from the road. We're using it as a memorial, not in a statue way, but a memorial as a piece of public art that can be utilized."
Seating will be integrated with the poppy panels.
The outcome, Schwar said, will be a more welcoming and accessible place.
Shrubs at the base of the lookout that obstructed the sightline have been removed, creating a view that is "actually quite decent," he said.
