Waterfront and River Walk Master Plan

We are developing a comprehensive, innovative and achievable Waterfront and River Walk Master Plan. The Master Plan is a community focused exercise that will create unique and innovative waterfront and river walk areas. These areas will be integrated with the natural environment and enhance connectivity, walkability, livability and quality of life for residents and visitors. The Master Plan will serve as a blueprint for implementation and will guide investment with the intention of supporting the Municipality’s commitment to a high quality of life for residents and for those who will come to enjoy all that Port Hope has to offer.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more. This Master Plan will be developed for the community, by the community. This website is your hub for information about the project, time lines, updates, and news about upcoming engagement events. Don’t forget to share your input through the various tools found at the bottom of this page.

Background

Port Hope Staff has been directed by Council, through the Port Hope Strategic Plan, 2019-2022, to develop a Master Plan for the Waterfront and River Walk. The timing is right to complete a new Waterfront and River Walk Master Plan for Port Hope. Local leadership, corporate partners and the Government of Canada have come together to create a strategy to address the longstanding industrial heritage that has left a legacy of historical industrial waste. This project can also move forward given that progress is underway with the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) which will result in land use options for the Municipality as key sites are remediated from their current state of low-level radiation contamination.Image depicting the five areas of interest

The scope of the Master Plan includes five key areas of interest. These five areas will be viewed holistically and will result in a remarkable waterfront and river walk experience for residents and visitors alike. The five key areas of interest are:

  • West Beach
  • Inner Harbour
  • Centre Pier
  • East Beach to Gages Creek (including A.K. Sculthorpe Marsh)
  • The Ganaraska River from Lake Ontario to Highway 401 (including Corbett’s Dam, Optimist Park, Port Hope’s historic downtown)

See the Map to help visualize the five key areas of interest! Learn more about the project by viewing our FAQs.

Project Timeline

This project commenced in February 2020 with the establishment of the Waterfront and River Walk Working Group – a citizen advisory committee, appointed by, and responsible to Port Hope Council. Community engagement commences in January 2021 with public input sought over three distinct project phases tied to technical deliverables. Council will have direct involvement and input throughout the process and is represented on the Working Group by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The Master Plan is expected to be presented to Council for approval in Summer 2022.


Graphic Image of timeline indicated above For the Community, By the Community

The Port Hope Waterfront and River Walk Master Plan will be developed for the community and with the community. Throughout the engagement process we will:

  • Introduce the project and explain the need
  • Seek your feedback on a priorities for the waterfront and River Walk
  • Describe design concepts and ask for your feedback
  • Seek feedback on proposed recommendations for the future of the Waterfront and River Walk
  • Outline next steps for the project
  • Let you know how you can get involved

We are developing a comprehensive, innovative and achievable Waterfront and River Walk Master Plan. The Master Plan is a community focused exercise that will create unique and innovative waterfront and river walk areas. These areas will be integrated with the natural environment and enhance connectivity, walkability, livability and quality of life for residents and visitors. The Master Plan will serve as a blueprint for implementation and will guide investment with the intention of supporting the Municipality’s commitment to a high quality of life for residents and for those who will come to enjoy all that Port Hope has to offer.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more. This Master Plan will be developed for the community, by the community. This website is your hub for information about the project, time lines, updates, and news about upcoming engagement events. Don’t forget to share your input through the various tools found at the bottom of this page.

Background

Port Hope Staff has been directed by Council, through the Port Hope Strategic Plan, 2019-2022, to develop a Master Plan for the Waterfront and River Walk. The timing is right to complete a new Waterfront and River Walk Master Plan for Port Hope. Local leadership, corporate partners and the Government of Canada have come together to create a strategy to address the longstanding industrial heritage that has left a legacy of historical industrial waste. This project can also move forward given that progress is underway with the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) which will result in land use options for the Municipality as key sites are remediated from their current state of low-level radiation contamination.Image depicting the five areas of interest

The scope of the Master Plan includes five key areas of interest. These five areas will be viewed holistically and will result in a remarkable waterfront and river walk experience for residents and visitors alike. The five key areas of interest are:

  • West Beach
  • Inner Harbour
  • Centre Pier
  • East Beach to Gages Creek (including A.K. Sculthorpe Marsh)
  • The Ganaraska River from Lake Ontario to Highway 401 (including Corbett’s Dam, Optimist Park, Port Hope’s historic downtown)

See the Map to help visualize the five key areas of interest! Learn more about the project by viewing our FAQs.

Project Timeline

This project commenced in February 2020 with the establishment of the Waterfront and River Walk Working Group – a citizen advisory committee, appointed by, and responsible to Port Hope Council. Community engagement commences in January 2021 with public input sought over three distinct project phases tied to technical deliverables. Council will have direct involvement and input throughout the process and is represented on the Working Group by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The Master Plan is expected to be presented to Council for approval in Summer 2022.


Graphic Image of timeline indicated above For the Community, By the Community

The Port Hope Waterfront and River Walk Master Plan will be developed for the community and with the community. Throughout the engagement process we will:

  • Introduce the project and explain the need
  • Seek your feedback on a priorities for the waterfront and River Walk
  • Describe design concepts and ask for your feedback
  • Seek feedback on proposed recommendations for the future of the Waterfront and River Walk
  • Outline next steps for the project
  • Let you know how you can get involved

Waterfront and Riverwalk

11 days

What are your priorities for Port Hope’s Waterfront and River Walk?

Share your priorities, ideas, hopes and concerns for Port Hope’s Waterfront and Riverwalk from the comfort of your home! By dragging and dropping pins onto the map, you can:

  • Identify places, spaces and features that are important to you;
  • Identify places you think are great opportunities for different types of activity, art or commemoration;
  • Identify areas that need investment or improvement; and
  • Note questions you have about specific areas or potential future plans.

You can also access this survey on your smartphone and complete it while walking along the Waterfront or River Walk. We encourage you to attach pictures to describe your feedback. You are welcomed to drop as many pins as you would like!

Your feedback will equip the Project Team with key insight into your priorities for enhancing and preserving for the long-term. On the map, you’ll see our five key areas of interest within the Master Plan study area. These areas of interest are the following:

  • West Beach
  • Inner Harbour
  • Centre Pier
  • East Beach to Gages Creek, including:
    1. The A.K. Sculthorpe Marsh on Lake Street, and
  • The Ganaraska River from Lake Ontario to Highway 401, including:
    1. Corbett’s Dam south of Highway 401,
    2. Optimist Park at Molson and Cavan Streets, and
    3. Port Hope’s historic downtown around Walton and Ontario Streets.

How to frame your feedback:

Think about what you like currently, what you would like to see more of and what could be improved. While we welcome any comments, we are specifically looking for feedback to help us understand the following:

  • Environmental Protection – Think about opportunities to integrate biodiversity, promote naturalization, protect or enhance natural areas and features along the Waterfront and River Walk.
  • Culture – Think about opportunities for permanent and temporary public art, monuments and memorials and seasonal activities (e.g., farmers markets, community events and festivals).
  • Recreation – Think about opportunities to identify improvements to recreational access, address the increased demand for open space and connection to nature, enhance opportunities for outdoor play, fitness and leisure and to improve beach experiences. 
  • Connectivity & Safety – Think about improvements to existing trails, trail linkages and access between key waterfront and river walk destinations. Think about ways to approve safety and accessibility for people of all ages and abilities.
  • Amenities – Think about opportunities for lighting, washrooms and other park and open space infrastructure and amenities (e.g., seating, lookout points, informative plaques, signage).
Go to Map
Page last updated: 17 January 2022, 09:46