POPULAR MUSKOKA BEACH SWIM PARK CLOSED FOR SUMMER REPAIRS
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
GRAVENHURST — With its only splash pad closed for at least three more weeks and temperatures soaring, Gravenhurst is closing its largest and only decent beach on Lake Muskoka this summer for repairs.
They say in a release Friday that the popular Muskoka Beach Park, located at 1141 Muskoka Beach Road, will be closed for the season due to a planned rehabilitation of the green space and beach area, including naturalization of the shoreline.
Onsite washroom facilities will remain open, however construction fencing will be installed around the perimeter of the property this coming week.
Currently, a detailed design of the park is is underway, including site plans that have the town seeking provincial and federal funding to complete. Once the design has been approved, the project will be tendered for summer/fall construction.
One can only hope they include work to the deplorable washrooms widely seen as a town disgrace and public health risk.
With the scheduled project, and due to safety and engineering concerns, the park will not be available for public swimming and swim area buoys will not be placed.
The scope of the project involves the reconfiguration of the entire property, including the beach area.
The public is encouraged to visit www.gravenhurst.ca/beaches for a full listing of additional beach locations to enjoy throughout the Town of Gravenhurst.
They ask that people observe all posted signage and follow all public health measures as directed by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit to ensure your safety and the safety of others.
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May 22, 2021 @ 4:26 pm
I do NOT understand how this can be happening – AGAIN! The Town of Gravenhurst Infrastructure Department closed Muskoka Beach with exactly the same explanation last year – and it was closed all summer!
Now with temperatures already reaching 30 degrees in May, here we are facing another summer without our beach. What on earth has everyone been doing in that department for the last year? Why could this work not have been done during the last 12 months leading up to this summer?
If the job will not be tendered until later summer or fall, why on earth can’t the beach be used for June, July and August. Surely some children and adults swimming in the water would not get in the way of this endless planning!
I know that the people with lavish summer homes on the lakes don’t care a fig for what happens at Muskoka Beach, but the people who live and work in Gravenhurst and who cannot afford those properties DO!
Judy Humphries
May 24, 2021 @ 3:41 pm
We have the same problem unfortunately.
We live in subsidized housing through the district where we are not aloud to actually have a pool in our backyard, or if you do receive a letter very quickly to remove it.
If you run a sprinkler for long enough you will receive a letter about the water meter that there is too much water being used. (This happened to us with a kiddie pool and also a trampoline.)
It feels like a lose lose.
It’s becoming very tough to keep families comfortable and busy through these times. Especially those on a lower income. Hoping for a fix soon.