CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A floating dock could make its inaugural splash off Charlottetown’s Victoria Park in fewer than two months, says the city’s chairman of parks and recreation.
Coun. Mitchell Tweel says he is hopeful the dock will be dropped into place by “the latter part of May’’ but adds some issues still need to be worked through first.
Tweel says his committee is exploring whether a public meeting should be held before making any recommendations to city council.
Council, he adds, has also sought legal advice as to whether the municipality has jurisdiction to install the $51,000 dock that has already been purchased by the city.
Tweel says the city is in the process of formalizing an agreement with the Charlottetown Harbour Authority over the dock.
Stella Newman attended a parks and recreation committee meeting Thursday expecting the floating dock to be discussed. However, the issue was deferred and may be addressed at an in-camera meeting, which is not open to the public or media, on April 17.
Newman is concerned the floating dock will only exacerbate what she already considers a major parking problem along the boardwalk.
“The temptation to be at the dock is going to be so heavy,’’ she says.
Newman says she parks along the boardwalk every chance she gets to take in the view while sitting in her car.
Some days she sits on a bench, but mobility is a big issue.
“It is with great difficulty that I walk,’’ she says.
Tweel believes the boardwalk walkers will prove to be the primary users of the floating dock by trekking out onto the structure to enhance their stroll.
He does not expect heavy use of the dock by people using water crafts like kayaks and paddle boards. Motorized crafts will not be allowed to access the dock, adds Tweel.
Newman, however, anticipates such a ban being ignored by some.
Tweel says installing a floating dock off the boardwalk is a main recommendation in the Victoria Park master plan.
He acknowledges parking along the boardwalk is often congested.
People park their vehicles to walk along the boardwalk, to visit the playgrounds – including a popular, new $1 million spot that is accessible to children with disabilities – and swim (at the public pool and in the harbour). People also park to play tennis and baseball or just to enjoy the open fields tossing balls, soaking up the sun or having a picnic.
Tweel says the city is looking to better promote parking by boardwalk and Victoria Park users at the nearby large parking lot for employees of the nearby provincial government buildings. He says the parking lot has plenty of open space on weekends and weekdays after government workers head home for the day.
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