Council approves major changes to Windsor's deadly Sandpoint Beach but work is years away

Windsor's city council is endorsing a plan to re-arrange the community's only beach to keep swimmers away from a deadly current at the mouth of the Detroit River. 

The $15-million master plan is a guiding document council will use to direct staff to reshape the beach in an effort to prevent people from drowning.

There are no specific timelines attached to the project but council is prioritizing shutting down the west-end of the beach and expanding the east-end. 

Last year the city added new fencing and signs to prevent people from swimming on the west-end of the beach after two people drowned. 

A safety audit completed in 2013 laid out 17 actions the city should take to align with best practices.

The biggest concern is the western edge of the beach which has an extreme drop off from shallow water to 3.65 metres in depth in a short distance. 

Swimmers are then hit by a strong undertow at the mouth of the Detroit River that can be deadly. 

There have been 8 documented drownings since 1986 at Sandpoint Beach, most recently two men who died last Spring.

City staff believe it will cost $15-million to build out the master plan, which includes a new splash pad, updated playground, a curbed railing along the west end of the beach and space for food trucks to park. 

The city has set aside $1.5-million for the project in the 10-year plan.

"We would have to have a discussion over what projects or priorities would have to be changed or differed in order to come up with the additional money," said Janice Guthrie, the city's commissioner of corporate services. 

Mayor Drew Dilkens said the most expensive part of the project will be moving the beach with a $12-million price tag. 

"So it's going to be several years before council actually squirrels away enough of that money to be able to to start on that project," he said.