Thunder Bay creating 'improvement plan' for Boulevard Lake
City plan will guide park development, management
The City of Thunder Bay is creating a plan to guide future development and management of a popular city park.
City staff, along with a consultant, held an open house Tuesday evening to get public input on the improvement plan for Boulevard Lake. To date, there has been no comprehensive plan for the park.
That's something that long-time park user Sandy Mertz wants to see changed. "I'm actually quite dumbstruck that the city hasn't had a strategic plan by this time," she said. "They've planned a lot of other things, but I think parkland is pretty important."
The plan is still in its formative stages. Consultant John Buchko said officials are putting a range of ideas to the public for feedback. It includes everything from new recreational opportunities to water quality, or how the park is managed.
One of the ideas drawing a lot of interest is the creation of an island in the lake using material collected after Boulevard is dredged this year, Buchko said. Other proposals included a bird blind, and the idea of not cutting grass in some areas to encourage more natural habitat and to pre-treat water.
About 100 people attended the open house, and many had their own ideas to contribute. Ralph Hibbert said he wants to see more access to the park. "I'd also like to see it connected to the rest of the city by pathways, utilize Centennial Park, and the whole area in here," he said.
The public will get another chance to give more input this spring, with the plan slated to be finished later this year.