Everything on the table as future of Chippewa Park examined

Everything is on the table for the future of Chippewa Park.

A lot has changed since the park’s master plan launched in 2000. The roller coaster has been dismantled, the city has assumed ownership of cottages whose leases have expired and citizen priorities for outdoor recreation have evolved.

The city launched a visioning exercise on Monday, a series of public consultations that will make recommendations to council on modifications to maximize Chippewa’s potential.

“We’re listening to people and what their ideas are,” said Werner Schwar, the city’s supervisor of parks and open spaces.

“There’s a chance to re-examine what kinds of things should be at Chippewa Park. That’s the whole idea of the visioning plan, not to come in with preconceived notions but to listen first and then develop the ideas from that.”

Schwar praised the Friends of Chippewa Park for their role in advancing elements of the passing plan. The Ottawa-based consulting group intends to meet with the friends this week to explore their input.

Sarah Miller is a senior planner with FOTENN Planning + Design. She has studied Thunder Bay’s record and evolving input into outdoor recreational activities and she’s

“Thunder Bay is a fantastic outdoor recreation community,” Miller said at Prince Arthur’s Landing where the consultation process was launched.

“It’s really focused on outdoor activities, particularly winter activities. Today’s Snowday is a great opportunity for us to sort of explore different winter activities like fat biking, snow yoga and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. All of those things we feel could align well in Chippewa Park.”