City wants you to float ideas for new waterfront vision

Sault Ste. Marie is calling on the community to help create a new vision for the waterfront.

The city, Tourism Sault Ste. Marie and Destination Northern Ontario are creating a design plan spanning from Bondar Marina to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre. This plan will help guide the development of the waterfront and transform it into a world-class destination, says a news release from the city.

“The Waterfront Design Plan is an actionable roadmap guiding future development, infrastructure investments, and public realm enhancements," says Travis Anderson, director of tourism and community development. "It aims to support tourism, stimulate economic development, and elevate the existing waterfront into a world-class destination, firmly establishing Sault Ste. Marie on the global map."

• Phase 1 of the project includes creating the vision (December 2023 – January 2024). During this initial phase, community members will provide input into the vision and strategic goals that will steer the future development of the waterfront.
• Phase 2 includes Design Concepts (January – March 2024) for the overall waterfront project area identifying focal points and showcasing the potential transformation that lies ahead.
• In Phase 3, the Final Waterfront Design Plan (March 2024) will be revealed. During all phases the community will be invited to share their input.

Community members can attend one of two pop-up events scheduled for tonight from 6–9 p.m. at the Station Mall and at the Soo Market, and Thursday night at the Plaza and the Station Mall.

For those unable to attend, the visioning survey is available at www.saultstemarie.ca/waterfront.

“By engaging the community, the City of Sault Ste. Marie aims to create a vibrant, cohesive waterfront that reflects the desires and aspirations of its residents," Anderson says. "Together, we can shape the future of Sault Ste. Marie's waterfront into a world-class destination."

As SooToday previously reported, the city is already examining the possibility of creating an urban beach at Bellevue Park.