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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS 05-25Report to Executive Committee Report Number: CS 05-25 Date: May 5, 2025 From: Laura Gibbs Director, Community Services Subject: Waterfront Paddle Sport Rental Service Frenchman’s Bay File: A-1440-001 Recommendation: 1.That Report CS 05-25 regarding an update on waterfront paddle sport rental service onFrenchman’s Bay be received; 2.That Council approve the inclusion of facilities to accommodate paddle sport rental services in the design of Beachfront Park Revitalization - Phase 2; and, 3.That the appropriate City of Pickering officials be authorized to take the necessary action as indicated in this report. Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to provide a recommendation for the inclusion of a paddle sport rental service on Frenchman’s Bay. The Recreation & Parks Ten Year Plan recommends the City continue to place a high priority on the preservation and restoration of waterfront parks and beaches that support public access for residents and visitors. This involves continued investment in the development and maintenance of key waterfront sites, including recreational amenities and support buildings. In response to the Recreation & Parks Ten Year Plan, inquiries from community organizations, and paddle sport service providers, staff have investigated the possibility of providing space for a paddle sport rental service on Frenchman’s Bay. The purpose of the service is to offer non-motorized paddle sport rentals to the public on a seasonal basis from May to September. Non-motorized boat rentals may include kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. Safety equipment like life jackets, a whistle, etc. would be required as part of the service and the responsibility of the vendor. The service requires consistent, seasonal access to a dock, and a secured and monitored storage unit to hold non-motorized boats and equipment that would remain at the location during the rental season. The paddle sport rental service on Frenchman’s Bay will be provided through a vendor that would be selected through a competitive process and subject to a licence or lease agreement with the City. Staff conducted discussions with stakeholders, and engaged residents for feedback on this proposal. Staff considered three locations and recommend the paddle sport rental service be integrated into the design of Beachfront Park Revitalization - Phase 2, located west of CS 05-25 May 5, 2025 Subject: Waterfront Paddle Sport Rental Service Page 2 Millennium Square. Relationship to the Pickering Strategic Plan: The recommendations in this report respond to the Pickering Strategic Plan Priorities of Champion Economic Leadership & Innovation; Advocate for an Inclusive, Welcoming, Safe & Healthy Community; and Advance Innovation & Responsible Planning to Support a Connected, Well-Serviced Community. Financial Implications: The provision of a paddle sport rental service in the design of Beachfront Park Revitalization - Phase 2 will include a dock, loading area and pathways. These additional features will increase the scope of the existing project. The design of Beachfront Park Revitalization - Phase 2 was included in the approved 2022 Capital Budget and this change to the scope can be accommodated in the design with no financial impact. The construction of Beachfront Park Phase 2 is included in the 2026 Capital Forecast and is estimated to cost $4,963,200. As the recommended change to the scope of the project is minor, there is no expected increase to total project costs. Discussion: The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the possibility of providing space for a paddle sport rental service on Frenchman’s Bay. Staff considered several locations before narrowing the options to the existing docks at Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park, and Progress Frenchman’s Bay East Park. Staff weighed the pros and cons of each location and conducted community engagement on residents’ preference between the two locations. At the outset of this analysis, staff only considered the two locations. Beachfront Park, West of Millennium Square was added as a viable third location after engagement was completed, based on feedback from residents. 1.Community Engagement occurred between March to September, 2024 Staff presented the proposal to offer paddle sport rental services on Frenchman’s Bay to the Waterfront Visionary Advisory Committee at the March 18, 2024 meeting. Advisory Committee members were receptive to the proposal, however requested public engagement with the surrounding neighbourhood and further input from Toronto & Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Staff followed up with TRCA and received conditional approval of the concept. Staff conducted public engagement to provide opportunities for feedback from residents on the location and proposed service. An online survey was posted on Let’s Talk Pickering on August 9, 2024, and was available until September 8, 2024. The survey was promoted on the City’s website and through various social media channels. A promotional postcard was distributed to 3,600 households within the immediate community surrounding east and west Frenchman’s Bay. The postcard provided a link to the Let’s Talk Pickering webpage. In addition, two pop-up consultation sessions were held at Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park for residents to provide input and speak directly with staff. CS 05-25 May 5, 2025 Subject: Waterfront Paddle Sport Rental Service Page 3 Staff received 150 responses to the survey: Q1. Do you or someone in your household currently visit the Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park? 92.7% yes Q2. How do you or someone in your household get to the Park? 57.3 % drive, 33.3% walk, 1.3 % cycle, 8.0 % other Q3. Have you or someone in your household used the boat launch at this location? 9% yes Q4. A rental service may require a storage unit at the location, are you in favour? 87% yes Q5. Are you in favour of a paddle sport service operating at the Park? 90% yes Residents raised several concerns that included traffic congestion, accessibility and environmental impacts to the Provincially Significant Wetland. Residents requested that staff continue to investigate the east side of Frenchman’s Bay as a more appropriate location than the west side. Many of these residents responded to the survey in favour of a paddle sport rental service being available, but preferred that the service not be located in Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park. Feedback from the Waterfront Visionary Advisory Committee on November 18, 2024 echoed the concerns of residents and re-iterated that a preferred location would be at Beachfront Park, west of Millennium Square. The Committee requested that the City reassess all possible sites. Staff considered a third site for paddle sport rentals at Beachfront Park. With the planned revitalization of the park, there is an opportunity to design a location that will better serve a paddle sport rental service. 2.Three locations were considered at Frenchman’s Bay for the paddle sport rental service The City completed extensive renovations to Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park in 2023, including construction of a new comfort station, improvements to trails and pathways, picnic areas, shoreline restoration, and a new accessible canoe/kayak launch. The first phase of the revitalization of Beachfront Park, located on the east side of Frenchman’s Bay will be completed by Summer 2025 and includes the construction of an elevated walkway and cycling route, viewing platforms overlooking Hydro Marsh, barrier free access ramps from the elevated structure to the beach, site lighting and furniture. The second phase of the Beachfront Park Revitalization is currently identified in the 2026 Capital Forecast as a construction project. The recent investment and proposed future investment in infrastructure in Beachfront Park make the site a viable location for a paddle sport rental service. The locations of the three proposed sites for the paddle sport rental service are shown on the map included in Attachment 1. CS 05-25 May 5, 2025 Subject: Waterfront Paddle Sport Rental Service Page 4 A.Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park The positives of this site are that it is a fully accessible launch dock with on-site parking and access to public washrooms. It is an appropriately sized location for a storage container with suitable locations for security cameras. The challenges of this site are that the location is beyond a locked gate providing no direct drive-up access for the vendor. There is considerable distance along the gravel path from barrier free parking to the dock, which may create barriers for some users. Some survey respondents felt that the aesthetics of the storage container may detract from the natural environment. There was also concern about weed growth and the possibility of vandalism to the storage container. B.Progress Frenchman’s Bay East Park: The positives of this site are that it is an established launch location that is already used for non-motorized boat entry. It is an appropriately sized location for storage with parking adjacent to site. In addition, the vendor would have unrestricted drive-up access to their equipment. The challenges of the site are that the dock and launch point require modifications to improve accessibility and better support a paddle sport rental service. This location is closer to residential homes, and with traffic congestion during peak times, parking is already at capacity. Community engagement respondents expressed some concerns about water weeds being close to docks, with shallow water making it difficult to clear the weeds in the area. Security cameras are recommended for the site to deter theft and vandalism. C.Beachfront Park, west of Millennium Square The positives of this site are that it is an area with high foot traffic that already attracts a lot of visitors. City events at Millennium Square continue to bring in large crowds and create opportunities for a business to engage with new customers, which would support higher use of the paddle sport rental service. There are existing food establishments and unique businesses in the Nautical Village that would appreciate an increase in patrons. There are existing security cameras monitoring high traffic areas in Beachfront Park. Additionally, the City partners with Durham Transit to provide a free shuttle bus service to the Nautical Village from Pickering’s City Centre that services the area during peak times in the summer. D.Recommendation of Preferred Site Based on feedback from the Waterfront Visionary Advisory Committee, open houses, community survey and input from various staff, the recommended location for the paddle sport rental service is west of Millenium Square. As this location on Frenchman’s Bay is part of the Beachfront Park Revitalization - Phase 2 which is currently identified in the 2026 Capital Forecast, there is time to better integrate the necessary components of the paddle sport rental service into the Phase 2 design and tender. CS 05-25 May 5, 2025 Subject: Waterfront Paddle Sport Rental Service Page 5 E.Beachfront Park – Phase 2 Design and next steps Staff recommend that a paddle sport rental service location be included in the design and construction of Beachfront Park Revitalization - Phase 2. Should the construction of this phase proceed in 2026, this area of the Park would be expected to reopen to the public for the Summer of 2027. Until Beachfront Park Revitalization Phase 2 is constructed, existing services for boat rental or programs are offered by Frenchman’s Bay Yacht Club and Pickering Dragonboat Club/ Alkame Dragonboat Services. Existing programs include public access to learn to sail programs, and water sport craft rentals. Attachment: 1.Proposed Paddle Sport Rental Service Location Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By: Original Signed By Original Signed By Karen Coleman, BA Laura Gibbs, MBA, MSc. Manager, Recreation Services Director, Community Services Original Signed By Original Signed By Arnold Mostert, O.A.L.A. Richard Holborn, P. Eng. Manager, Landscape & Parks Development Director, Engineering Services LG:kc Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council Original Signed By Marisa Carpino, M.A. Chief Administrative Officer I DATE: Apr. 08, 2025 PARK ALDERWOOD PARK FRENCHMAN'S BAY COASTAL WETLAND COMPLEX FRENCHMAN'S BAY OPEN SPACE 1man's Bay BAL SOON BAY EAST PARK VISTULA RAVINE. BRUCE HANDSCOMB PARK FRENCHMA BAY OP SP ROTARY FRENCHMAN'S BAY WEST PARK Frencl N'S EN ACE CANOE/ KAYAK DOCK 7 .j. Attachment 1 to Report CS 05-25 BEACHFRONT PARK Proposed Paddle Sport Rental Service Location• ,La1'e Ontario Engineering Services Department Location Map Proposed Paddle Sport Rental Service Location Utycf PlCKERlNG SCALE: 1:10,000