The City wishes to remind trail users that sections of the east and west waterfront trails remain closed due to shoreline erosion and trail damage caused by high water levels and wind-driven wave action in 2020. Wave action has also deposited large amounts of debris, rock, and sand from the lakebed on these sections of the trail.

Enhancing the City’s resiliency and capacity for mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change and supporting and promoting healthy lifestyles are key objectives of the City’s new Strategic Plan.

The restoration of both the shoreline and these trails will be completed in 2021 as part of the City’s approved capital budget. Staff is working to complete the necessary engineering, approvals, and procurement to allow the work to commence. Trail repairs are anticipated to occur in the summer and shoreline protection to be completed in the fall.

Until the work is completed, trail users are asked to respect the barricades and stay off the closed sections. When trail barricades and signage are deployed, they must remain in place to inform users of trail conditions before they encounter them for their safety.

The closures are indicated on the attached maps in red. Available alternate routes are indicated on the maps in green.

At Kelso Beach Park, the trail closure does not prohibit access to the beach area for day use.

The Waterfront Trail is a popular pedestrian link to the River District, the Georgian Bay Trail on the west side of the harbour, and to the Tom Thompson Trail on the east side of the harbour. The waterfront trail is also part of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail system that connects 3000 km of trail, 155 first nations and communities, 4 great lakes, and 16 heritage rivers.

More information about Parks and Open Spaces in Owen Sound can be found here.

source: media release, City of Owen Sound