4 Components of the Plan

4 Components of the Plan Barrie’s waterfront covers a large area with approximately 10 kilometres of shoreline in three distinct areas: North Shore, Central Waterfront and South Shore. The North Shore is characterized by a linear park system, with a sloped shore line on one side and established residential communities on the other. The Central Waterfront includes a diversity of high profile public places, including urban squares near Downtown Barrie and one of the City’s premier beach areas - Centennial Park. While the North Shore and Central Waterfront provide ample public access to the water’s edge, the shoreline along the South Shore is largely tucked away behind new residential development, and much of the land at the water’s edge is privately owned. Small-scaled, naturalized openings at the water’s edge provide access to Kempenfelt Bay for residents in the know. The Waterfront Concept Plan in Chapter 3 illustrated the overall structure for the waterfront based on the unique characteristics of these three areas, and Big Ideas for creating a cohesive and functional whole. This chapter of the Waterfront + Marina Strategic Plan provides detailed descriptions for the key elements that comprise each section of the waterfront including: Environment, Activity Centres, Mobility Network, and Development Opportunities. A summary of work undertaken since City Council adopted the Waterfront Master Plan in 2000 is provided for each section of the waterfront. Building on the work completed to date, recommendations for each key element are provided to guide the ongoing evolution of the North Shore, Central Waterfront and South Shore as the City grows over the next twenty years. 18 Barrie Waterfront + Marina Strategic Plan - Components of the Plan Shoreview Park Nelson + Vancouver Look Outs Future North Shore Trail Nelson Square Johnson’s Beach Park Gateway St. Vincent Park Kempenfelt Park Waterfront Trail Bicycle Route Multi-Use Trail Study Area Bayview Park Figure 9. North Shore Illustrative Plan North Barrie Waterfront + Marina Strategic Plan - Components of the Plan 19 North Shore Environment Activity Centres The North Shore is bounded by Poyntz Street/the westerly limits of Bayview Park in the west, Dunlop Street East/Blake Street/Shanty Bay Road to the north, and the City limits at The North Shore of Kempenfelt Bay is characterized by a narrow band of shoreline vegetation Johnson’s Beach & The Barrie Yacht Club Penetanguishene Road in the east. with small pockets of open water and submerged aquatic plant communities. The vegetation associated with the shoreline is mainly cultural in character and has experienced significant Johnson’s Beach is located at the east end of the North Shore, near the City limits and the The area is primarily characterized by single-detached residential uses and a naturalized disturbance related to previous (railway line) and current (residential, multi-use trail) land Township of Oro-Medonte. It is the second largest beach facility (0.8 ha) within the City and is well shoreline. It includes the North Shore Trail that was built along the former CN rail line use practices. Typical tree and shrub species present along the shoreline include Manitoba used during the summer for swimming and sun bathing. This sandy beach includes washrooms and larger parks that are either directly connected to the path system (Johnson’s Beach, maple, poplar, willow, red-osier dogwood, brambles, Siberian elm and buckthorn. The former and a parking lot, as well as lifeguard attendants. Johnson’s Beach is located near the terminus of Kempenfelt Park), or are located on the opposite side of the parallel road system (St. Vincent Lake Algonquin shoreline bluff to the north supports cultural woodland and remnant deciduous the North Shore Trail, and serves as a major access point to the North Shore waterfront. Park and Nelson Square). These key pieces of parkland are integrated with the waterfront forest communities. Species found within these forest groupings include sugar maple, red oak, park system and include buildings and structures. white ash, and white pine. Meanwhile, the park system includes a typical mixture of native and The Barrie Yacht Club, founded in 1952, is located directly east of Johnson’s Beach off Johnson’s non-native landscape plantings, with Norway maple being the predominant species. Localized Street. The facility presently consists of a clubhouse with washroom and shower facilities, a Further inland, on top of the former Lake Algonquin shoreline, adjacent to Codrington Street, there erosion is evident along the steeper sections of the shoreline, as is “pruned” vegetation to banquet hall and limited parking. Boating facilities include a pump out, serviced docks and a are road right-of-way stubs that are used as parkettes/lookouts by residents of, and visitors to, improve sightlines to Kempenfelt Bay from the adjacent residences along Dunlop Street and small launch ramp, dryland small boat storage racks and docking for approximately 100 boats. neighbourhoods located adjacent to the Kempenfelt Bay shoreline along the City’s North Shore. Kempenfelt Drive. The City has implemented a vegetation management plan that responds The Club operates as a non-profit organization where members pay a membership fee to join the to better maintenance of the trail along the North Shore. Club and an annual fee for docking. Nelson Square, St. Vincent Park and Kempenfelt Park In addition to Johnson’s Beach, the North Shore includes three public parks that are Recommendations connected by the North Shore trail and primarily used for picnicking. Discover Barrie Trail 1. Retain and protect environmental features, including the Kempenfelt Bay shoreline • Nelson Square is located on the northside of Kempenfelt Drive, and is home to the (plus a 30 m buffer where feasible) and the remnant deciduous forest communities Parkview Seniors Centre. The Square is 1.2 ha in size and includes a treed grassy area Nelson Square associated with the former Lake Algonquin shoreline. with picnic tables, as well as the Nelson Lookout and Vancouver Lookout. The lookouts Barrie Heritage Trail Johnson’s Beach 2. Protect and enhance the existing tree and shrub cover through naturalization and provide a system of visually linked parks and open space along the North Shore. St. Vincent Park + Barrie Yacht Club infill planting. In particular, localized planting should include native, riparian species • St. Vincent Park is a local neighbourhood park that is 1.0 ha in size, with a playground, in erosion prone areas, and shoreline plantings that provide shade and shelter for Kempenfelt Park picnic pavilion, mature trees, and a washroom building. These facilities make the Bayview Park fish to increase aquatic habitat. park an attractive gathering place for residents from the local neighbourhood and other parts of the City. As such, the park has been identified as a Secondary Activity North Shore Concept Plan 3. Restore and enhance the shoreline in the areas where boathouses have been removed. Centre. 4. Distribute a landscape and maintenance handbook with advice on appropriate planting materials and maintenance protocols for private lands that abut public lands and trails. • Kempenfelt Park is a linear park that is 1.3 ha in size and runs along the North Shore Trail adjacent to Kempenfelt Drive. The park has excellent views of the water and is most suitable for passive recreational use. North Shore Trail at St. Vincent Park Johnson’s Beach Park The Barrie Yacht Club 20 Barrie Waterfront + Marina Strategic Plan - Components of the Plan Bayview Park North Shore - Work Undertaken to Date Bayview Park is located at the northern-most part of the Central Waterfront, at the interface Recommendations with the North Shore at Dunlop Street and Poyntz Street. Like many other parks along the Since 2000, the City has acted on a number of its recommendations for the North 1. Develop a concise Wayfinding Signage Program with distance markers Central Waterfront, it has the potential to accommodate new programming to relieve existing Shore. between features for the parks system along the North Shore, and ensure it is demand on Centennial Park. To facilitate the introduction of programming to Bayview Park, coordinated with wayfinding for the rest of the waterfront. Include wayfinding • After acquiring the former CN rail corridor, the City prepared the North Shore a new park design has been prepared for an outdoor performance centre (see concept plan below). The park design uses the existing underground water reservoir by converting it in to an signage at all Transit Route Corridor bus stops along the waterfront to direct Trail Master Plan (2002), which conceptually identified the 3 km alignment outdoor amphitheater. The preliminary plan for Bayview Park proposes several improvements, people to the adjacent recreational trails, parkland, and open space systems. of the trail and outlined park improvements along the route, including for including: Johnson’s Beach and Kempenfelt Park. Since that time, the granular North 2. Develop a new Corporate Park signage program that updates older wood park Shore Trail has been implemented. • a seated amphitheater with a band shell/stage, signage. • washrooms, storage and concert preparation space, • The City has also investigated, and subsequently terminated, the leases of 3. Install beacons within the Johnson’s Beach, Nelson Square, St. Vincent Park, • new open lawn areas, and Bayview Park Activity Centres. numerous boathouses and waterlots that were formerly located between • a plaza/flex space for events, and Puget Street and St. Vincent Park. The structures have also been removed 4. Develop a safety stations implementation plan along the North Shore, with • ornamental planting beds. to make way for slope stabilization and rehabilitation of the shoreline. standards for their design and separation distance. Coordinate the safety Bayview Park will also serve as a trail head, connecting Heritage Park in the Central stations with any Blue Flag certification requirements, if pursued.

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