CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. —
Dave Stewart
THE GUARDIAN
People are going to be able to walk on water again this year at Victoria Park in Charlottetown.
The city’s parks and recreation committee unanimously agreed to issue a recommendation to city council that the floating dock become a permanent fixture.
Council agreed to have the dock installed last year as a pilot project and will have the final say on whether it returns.
“I spent a considerable amount of time down at the dock (last year) because I wanted to hear the feedback and have a chance to communicate with people who had a chance to experience the floating dock,’’ said Coun. Mitchell Tweel, chairman of the parks and recreation committee.
“The feedback was just overwhelming. People were very enthusiastic and they had a great experience.’’
Tweel said the committee is hoping to make some changes, such as adding more benches. There was one bench at the end of the dock last year. The city is also considering making the north end of the dock wider or, as Tweel describes it, a T-formation so people can turn left or right when they walk out to the end.
The councillor said he has also had a request from a number of seniors.
“One of the recommendations from the seniors who enjoyed the dock was to have a railing going out as you walk out so that’s something I want to explore as well.’’
There is no design on what the dock would look like with the changes but Tweel points out that it’s made of modular parts so pieces can easily be added or taken away.
Some recommended changes for Victoria Park’s floating dock, pending council approval:
- Wider at the end with more benches for people to sit on.
- A railing along the walkway.
The point of putting a floating dock in was to give people on the boardwalk safe access to the water without having to climbs over the rocks.
The parks and recreation department received an access award in January from the P.E.I. Council of People with Disabilities for inclusive projects in Victoria Park, such as the accessible playground and the floating dock.
The city spent roughly $51,000 to purchase the structure after being given a 25 per cent discount. It’s also less than the approximate $60,000 the city spent nine years ago putting in a floating dock at the Charlottetown Yacht Club.
East Coast Docks handled the installation last year at a cost of $2,200.
As for the rules, Tweel said no one is permitted to launch any type of watercraft, such as canoes or kayaks off the dock.
The dock will be installed sometime this spring and will be removed in late fall.
