The $6-million rejuvenation project of Kingston’s Breakwater Park is nearing completion.
Luke Follwell, Kingston`s director of recreation and leisure services, says the construction crews deserve recognition for their work under difficult circumstances.
“Contractors been working hard to get the park open, doing lots of great work on the final touches. You know, what everybody sees.”
Most of the sod, landscaping, benches, and bike racks are in place.
The project was originally expected to be completed by late spring or early summer but last year’s near-record high water levels on Lake Ontario slowed the project.
Crews needed low water and dry land to place the large retaining stones along the waterfront.
They weren’t able to start on that work until late fall and had to work through the winter to make up for lost time.
The high water also caused extensive shoreline erosion.
Follwell says they managed to roll that extra work into the Breakwater Park project.
“If the project wasn’t in the queue for 2017, then we certainly would have had to spend some money to repair and make the area safe.”
Crews continue to work on the park but the city did manage to open up the east end of the park on Friday.
“We’re going to open up half of the park from Lower University up to the time headland,” said Follwell. “We want the public to come down and enjoy this beautiful waterfront park.”
The remainder of the work on the park is expected to be completed in July with a grand opening ceremony held on July 21.
Comments