Both Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon, August 14-15, 2015, the public had the opportunity to take a look at the long term concept plans for the Iroquois Waterfront, designed by Mark Thompson Brandt Architect & Associates Inc. of Ottawa. Chair of the volunteer waterfront committee, which spent months working on the project, Jim Wilson, was pleased that so many interested people came down to the pavilion at the Iroquois beach to see the ideas proposed by the committee.
“In the past we have held big show and tells in buildings,” said Jim Wilson. “This time we felt it would be more appropriate to bring people to the beach itself to see what the plans will really affect.”
Visitors were able to view several poster size concept plans from MTBA, developed by working in collaboration with the local committee.
“They (the committee) have done a lot of work. I am very impressed with the quality and amount of detail in the plans,” said John Ross. “I really like the expansion of the beach. This committee has really done a good job.” Visitor Ed Wilson, studying the plans said they were “looking good.” Committee member Margaret Lee said “I’m thrilled with the plans. We needed to start the project somewhere, and to work, even in baby steps, a bit at a time. And I feel that we have been very careful to preserve the spirit of the Old Town.”
Jim Wilson also feels that the proposed plans can be done incrementally, although “the beach and shore line will be done first.” He pointed out that a key goal of the concepts is to “bring people to our beach. Many in our community still remember when the town was right on the water. They still feel passionate about old Iroquois. Over time, though, we have become a little disconnected with our river. A lot of our plans have more to do with enhancement than change. We wanted a more attractive, user-friendly environment which would also be more attractive to visitors.”
On Friday afternoon architect Mark Brandt and Jorge Sosa, project manager for MTBA, were in town to meet the public and discuss the project. In its concepts for the waterfront, the company took into consideration that strong attachment many in this town still feel to the old village lost when the Seaway was built. As Brandt’s practice involves restoration and environmentally positive projects, he sought a way to memorialize the spirit of the old Iroquois.
“We wanted to do something which would not detract from the waterfront, but would also be inexpensive,” he explained. “We came up with the idea of commemorative meadows which would demark the old street grid of the original town using grasses and wildflowers. The green space would become beautiful meadows, yet there would be no effect on the airport.”
At the end of the “old streets” plans call for jettees which are connected to the water and would terminate the ‘streets’ in a “low key, nice way”.
The overall concept for the waterfront takes in all the different components of the town, both old and new, “and knits them together to make this a destination place,” said Brandt. “Interpretive signage is part of that plan.” The plan calls for 27 interpretive stations where the history of Iroquois will be revealed. The Carman House, the boat houses, the waterfront pathway are all part of the “loop which will tie everything together and high-light the features of the waterfront.” An adequate and upgraded parking lot would make the beach more accessible.
Down the line, a second picnic pavilion, and perhaps a small cafe in a renovated Beach Pavilion are included in the long term concepts. While children and families use the beach, adults, walkers, hikers, bicyclists, campers and people coming to town for special events, could find a waterfront cafe, with a stunning river view, a real draw in the community.
Jorge Sosa, project manager for MTBA, created three dimensional drawings, and a digital model of the proposed waterfront changes, where people can experience a “fly through” of the entire project. This four minute video can be accessed by visiting the Morrisburg Leader facebook page.
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