More council discussions will be taking place involving the creation of a plaza-style area at the city’s waterfront.
A motion to award the tender for the second phase of the Waterfront Garden Canada 150 project across the street from the pedestrian underpass has been referred to committee.
At a cost of nearly $250,000, the project will create an open gathering space with a large maple leaf built into the paving stones.
Councillor Gary Gardiner won’t be supporting the project.
He points to cost pressures on the capital budget as the main reason why, but it’s not the only one.
“The investment in putting an asset down on the waterfront that’s made of pavers, their life cycle is not what it used to be. It’ll mean in 10 years we’ll be having to look at replacing and repairing so there’s additional costs.“
Councillor Chris Mayne supports the project.
“The waterfront continues to be a signature piece for the City of North Bay. It’s a place that everyone is brought to when they visit the city,” he says. “I think we do need to continue to invest in it from time to time to make it look fresh and inviting rather than just stale and in disrepair.”
The city says the North Bay Heritage Gardeners have committed over $54,000 to the project.
The first phase saw the city build an accessible pathway in 2020.
