May 28, 2021

COUNCIL COMES TO SENSES, KEEPS MUSKOKA BEACH ½ OPEN

GRAVENHURST — It’s a case of half full rather than half empty.

The people of Gravenhurst have spoken and the staff and council have responded.

After a huge outcry last week over the town’s plans to close the Muskoka Beach Park again this summer, saner heads have prevailed as staff heard from councillors, who heard from an angry residents and public officials came to their senses.

In a release today, the town says: After further review with the Town’s engineering consultant, a portion of the Muskoka Beach Park will be available for public use, including a designated swim area. Work must be done to make the beach safe. Plans are in place to phase the work as much as possible over time to permit the construction to proceed, while allowing the public to continue to enjoy at least a portion of the current beach area.

“We are planning for a more centralized beachfront a safe distance from the Hoc Roc River,” admitted Andrew Stacey, director of infrastructure services.

“While the defective shoreline walls continue to be the primary safety concern at this location, future plans will include a more naturalized rock retaining wall opposed to concrete. When finished, there will be a newly defined picnic area and greater accessibility to all of the park elements,” said Stacey.

“Additional funding was required through council to address the failure of a secondary shoreline wall which increased the project scope and delayed the start of the project”

It wasn’t that many years ago that the existing retaining wall and entrance steps in to the beach water were reconstructed.

And now that’s being re-done again — and that had local residents up in arms.

Stacey said there is a short construction season that must meet federal and provincial guidelines for the protection of fish and fish habitat.

He said as the rehabilitation project progresses, some restrictions will need to continue to be in place to protect the safety of the general public. Ongoing site engineering will continue over the summer, with the project being tendered this fall with actual construction to follow.

This comes as the town follows in lock-step with the province’s re-opening plans.

The town’s parks division announce a number of additional amenities that will reopen immediately with other to follow.

**Swim buoys are out at Gull Lake Rotary Park in Gravenhurst, but there is no life guard supervision at this time.**

Schedule of opening for additional outdoor amenities:

Public beaches

All municipally operated beaches are now open which is three weeks earlier than a typical summer season.
Swim buoys and safety awareness signage has been placed at all beach sites inclusive of Muskoka Beach Park.
The public is reminded to abide by all posted onsite COVID-19 protocols and applicable beach rules.
Beaches remain unsupervised at this time.

Ball Diamonds:

Wharf, Muskoka Bay and Gull Lake diamonds will be open to the public on Friday May 28. Opening was delayed to permit grooming operations to be scheduled of the infield diamonds.

The public are reminded that under the current Provincial framework, team sports are not practised or permitted within this amenity.

Gull Lake Rotary Park Volleyball:

Play area will be opened to the public on Friday June 4

Prior to opening, edging will occur to enhance the delineation of the court, including the placement of additional court sand as part of the parks division ongoing beautification efforts.

Splash Pad:

Splash pad water will be turned on and available to the public on Friday June 11, though the gate is open and a sign shows it open.

Prior to opening, the pad is being scheduled to be power washed and the mechanicals are being seasonally serviced.

Opening of the pad is occurring a week in advance of a typical summer season.

Picnic Pavilions and Shelters:

They will be open on Saturday May 29.