Our Canatara Park Master Plan outlines a concept and implementation strategy to drive re-investment and modernization into Sarnia’s largest park, ensuring that recommendations are considered as part of the annual budget process and that projects are ready should grant funding become available.

The plan aims to:

  • Protect the beach and natural heritage features
  • Protect cyclists and pedestrians
  • Balance diverse uses and protection of the park’s ecosystem
  • Support continued recreation and programmed events
  • Upgrade facilities and services
  • Improve wayfinding
  • Manage safe traffic flows

From Canada Day celebrations to the Children’s Animal Farm to Canatara Beach, there are no shortage of uses and amenities at the 174-acre park. To ensure this valued and crucial recreation and leisure space continues to serve residents, both now and into the future, we undertook broad public consultation, engaging stakeholders, experts and our residents in the process. More than 2,500 residents contributed their insight throughout the engagement process that included public information sessions, a survey, design workshops and more.

Plan Highlights

The master plan outlines roughly $11 million in short-, medium- and long-term investments into the park that will be considered by Council during annual budget deliberations.

Park Zones

The Canatara Park Master Plan identifies five zones, each serving unique user needs and experiences:

  • The Beach Zone
  • The Event Zone
  • The Lake Zone
  • The Meadow Zone
  • The Forest Zone

Consult the drop-down sections below for more specific details on individual zone recommendations.

The Beach Zone

Canatara Beach is perhaps one of the most important attractions at the park. The Blue Flag certified beach represents a unique dune ecosystem. The dune is an extremely rare ecosystem and one of only a handful along the entire Lake Huron shoreline. Protection of the dune is a fundamental consideration in the final concept plan.

Beach Zone recommendations:

  • A new lifeguard station with washrooms
  • A raised boardwalk to enhance accessibility to the beach and protect dune grass
  • Parking lot reconfiguration
  • Beach volleyball courts
  • Accessibility mats / ramps
  • Beach area playground and fitness stations
  • Canoe / kayak launch
  • Upgraded Sandy Lane parking lot
  • Picnic area

More information on the Beach Zone can be found on page 48 of the plan.

The Event Zone

Located around the large park field, the Event Zone is the traditional home of a wide range of City events including Canada Day. It is also the area within which picnic pavilions are rented. The zone includes the park road that remains in its existing location and connects with Sandy Lane on the west side of the park.

Event Zone recommendations:

  • Maintenance of the existing lawn
  • Protection of the forested edge of the zone
  • A new covered stage
  • New paved surface area for food trucks and seasonal rentals
  • Event staging area
  • Maintenance of the Terry Fox Building
  • Maintenance of the newly revitalized playground
  • Park pavilion upgrades
  • Washroom upgrades
  • Separated walking and biking trails
  • Parking on Lake Chipican Drive
  • Cycling / pedestrian trail connections to Waterfront Trail
  • New Sandy Lane sidewalk

More information on the Event Zone can be found on page 50 of the plan.

The Lake Zone

The Lake Zone consists of the area around Lake Chipican and includes the Children’s Animal Farm. This final park concept plan maintains the Farm and Choo Choo Train in their current locations.

Lake Zone recommendations:

  • Separated walking / cycling trail and traffic calming along Lake Chipican Drive
  • Three new boardwalk lookouts on Lake Chipican
  • A new floating boardwalk on the west shore of Lake Chipican
  • Expansion of the existing Lake Chipican viewing platform
  • Ted Leaver building upgrades
  • A new farm-themed playground
  • New Choo Choo Train loop
  • New storage shed
  • New park pavilion

More information on the Lake Zone can be found on page 52 of the plan.

The Meadow Zone

The Meadow Zone is the area south of the park service road that extends from Cathcart Boulevard, most of which is within the Village of Point Edward municipal boundary. Today this area is mainly a meadow landscape with recreational trails. The plan for this zone, in part, focuses on environmental management and restoration of the meadow landscape.

Meadow Zone recommendations:

  • New shade structure
  • New washrooms
  • Nature education centre and day camp
  • Existing BMX track
  • Native educational gardens
  • Viewing tower
  • Two new vehicle entrances and small parking lots
  • Meadow Zone environmental management and restoration, including removal of invasive species
  • Cycling loop
  • Trail extension to Front Street

More information on the Meadow Zone can be found on page 54 of the plan.

The Forest Zone

The Forest Zone, more commonly known by Tarzanland, is a mixed oak deciduous forest considered to be rare to uncommon in Ontario. This is a significant area of natural interest and the plan outlines efforts to protect this area.

Forest Zone recommendations:

  • Enhanced hierarchical trail system including mulch, granular and limited paved trails in addition to a fully accessible trail
  • New sidewalk and entrance points along the west side of Christina Street
  • Safety improvements to the pedestrian crossing at Cathcart Boulevard and Christina Street
  • Reconfigured primary park entrance with directional signage and gateway elements
  • Elevated tree canopy walk
  • Viewing tower
  • New bicycle route connecting to Meadow Zone
  • New car and bicycle parking along the south side of Cathcart Boulevard
  • Environmental management and restoration

More information of the Forest Zone can be found on page 56 of the plan.

Implementation

Implementation of recommendations will require Council review and allocation of funding to proceed and will be reviewed as part of the annual budget process.

You can access a copy of the full plan below. For recommended project phasing please refer to page 77. You can find estimated capital recommendation costs starting on page 80.

Learn More

Check out the plan below to learn more about our community’s vision for the future of Canatara Park.

Read the Canatara Park Master Plan