Sandpoint Beach in transition as future remains suspended

The Port Authority says it will attempt to make Sandpoint Beach unattractive to users. CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco looks at how.

A first sign of change at Sandpoint Beach happened on Thursday afternoon when buoys were removed by staff, as the next chapter begins at the troubled waterfront hot spot.

“We know that putting up signs didn’t work,” Port Authority CEO Steve Salmons pointed out. “We know the city putting up a fence didn’t work.”

The City of Windsor has control of the area where a 15 year old drowned last month, but it’s handing back the property to its owner, the Port Authority.

“We as a port now have an issue that on January 1st it reverts to our property. It now becomes our problem, our liability.”

Salmons plans to make sure the dangerous part of the beach is inaccessible.

“We are now in discussions of what designs can we undertake to make that location on the beach as unattractive, to discourage people from swimming.”

Salmons said the plan could include an offshore structure, like the one found near the pier next to the Ambassador Bridge, which would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“It can be as simple as just removing the sand, but when it’s hot, people will want to go in the water, so I think we’re going to have to look at probably a number of treatments,” Salmons said.

“Much heavier grasses where people don’t want to walk into the grasses. This is a study that is ongoing. What I can assure you is that by January 1st, we will have a solution in place.”

Salmons said his harbourmaster is in discussion with other ports that have beaches or waterfronts where swimming is discouraged.

The city’s Sandpoint Beach Masterplan is on hold until an inquest into the latest drowning is complete. Whatever the ultimate plan, the port plans to play a supportive role.

In the meantime, the city continues to implement a plan to close off swimming access by the end of the month.

“There are still great opportunities to enjoy the park land and the sand portion, the playground and all of those areas and amenities are still open to the public,” said James Chacko, director of parks, facilities and recreation.

The city said staff will continue their role at the beach as ambassadors and will educate the public on the changes until they are reassigned.