Work at Navy Yard Park extension to proceed, fencing to stay up for a while

By Ron Giofu

The town has approved including $150,000 in the 2023 budget for the next phase of work at the former Duffy’s site.

The site, planned to be an extension of King’s Navy Yard Park, continues to be fenced off and the $150,000 would be to stabilize the shoreline including to hire a consultant to complete design and tender documents and drawings for rock revetment, steel sheet pile wall and tie backs, concrete cap, railings and onsite drainage.

A future $3 million is proposed for 2025 for construction work, pending approvals from upper levels of government.

The project has been delayed due to approvals being required before the public can access the site.

Councillor Molly Allaire wanted to know if any of the new positions hired during the operational budget could help offset some of the costs associated with work at the former Duffy’s site.

“This is a specialized process in terms of ministry approvals that we would require an engineer to oversee,” said director of parks, facilities, recreation and culture Heidi Baillargeon.

Baillargeon said the town will be on board as well to guide the process.

Councillor Diane Pouget asked about timelines, noting the frustration people are feeling about the delay.

“Why is it taking the ministry so long? They were studying it last year and now you’re not expecting it not to move forward until the end of the summer?”

Pouget asked Baillargeon.

Baillargeon said the town is following the ministry process and there are two processes the town has to follow. She said a report put forward had to do with approval from the Ministry of Environment for the actual environmental cleanup at the property. The second set of approvals is from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) around the shoreline stabilization process.

“We’re doing those processes concurrently so when the ministry gives us the final blessing to open up as safe parkland, we can do that executing the work at the same time. When the fences come down, the hope is the park will be ready to go. It will be greenspace,” said Baillargeon.

CAO Valerie Critchley said a second submission has been made to the province and there is a 16-week review period “which is their standard.” She said the town will track that and ask for assistance if there are opportunities to advance the project.

“Right now, we are working in their processes as best they can,” she said.

Mayor Michael Prue said the previous council did ask that the work at the site