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The City of Kingston is thrilled to unveil the highly-anticipated Richardson Beach shoreline and Richardson Bathhouse projects at Macdonald Memorial Park following the completion of extensive improvements.
Residents are invited to celebrate at the grand opening on Saturday, June 10 at 11 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, speeches and the presentation of the newly improved shoreline and bathhouse, with music provided by Kingston's Move 98.3 FM.
“Coastal erosion and flooding around the Great Lakes put properties, public spaces, critical infrastructure and businesses at risk of loss and damage,” says Mark Gerretsen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Senate) and Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “The Government of Canada is working with its partners at all levels to prepare communities across the country for extreme weather and climate-related events. Enhancements at Richardson Beach are part of improvements to more than two kilometres of shoreline around Kingston that will protect an area of more than 17 square kilometres from flooding.”
“The Government of Canada is pleased to invest in the important upgrades to the historic Richardson Bathhouse, a popular outdoor hub, to help welcome back more visitors and members from across Kingston and beyond,” says the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “Investing in the preservation of historic, communal spaces helps us understand and preserve our past while also modernizing for future generations to enjoy.”
Richardson Beach is a favourite destination along Kingston’s waterfront. Shoreline and beach improvements were identified as the top priority in the Waterfront Master Plan. Improvements include shoreline protection, a new lookout, walkways, wood lounger seating, terraced water access and gathering areas. An area of the site celebrates marathon swimmer Vicki Keith and her notable achievements as a world-record open lake swimmer.
Renovations to the Richardson Bathhouse improved accessibility and addressed building issues in the 100 plus year-old facility. Improvements include upgrades to the washrooms and changing facilities, a renovation of the central foyer with a second story atrium and mosaic by the Kingston Potters Guild, and repairs to the heritage masonry and clay tile roof.
"Richardson Beach and the Richardson Bathhouse are key pieces of Kingston's waterfront history and a beloved community space," says Neal Unsworth, Manager, Parks and Shoreline, Engineering Services. "We're pleased to see these projects complete and look forward to residents and visitors enjoying this beautiful site for years to come."
The project was funded through multiple federal and provincial programs. The Government of Canada’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund contributed to the shoreline project to increase the resiliency of Richardson Beach in the face of climate change. Additional federal support was provided by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to increase capacity, accessibility and safety at the Richardson Bath House. The Government of Ontario partially funded the Richardson Beach Bathhouse improvements.
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