City Council Approves Plan to Rebuild Weaver’s Creek Boardwalk in Harrison Park
Owen Sound City Council has approved plans to rebuild the Weaver’s Creek Boardwalk in Harrison Park, with construction targeted for summer 2026 following consultation and permitting.
Owen Sound City Council has approved a motion to move forward with a full rebuild of the Weaver’s Creek Boardwalk in Harrison Park.
The decision was made at Council’s regular meeting on Monday, February 9, 2026, following a recommendation from the Community Services Committee and a staff report outlining design and budget details.
The boardwalk, originally constructed in 2003 by the Scenic City Order of Good Cheer, has been closed since July 2023 after a falling tree damaged one of its wooden sections.
City staff determined at the time that the trail would remain closed until a complete rebuild could be completed, citing existing deterioration and safety concerns in other parts of the structure.
According to a staff report presented to the Community Services Committee on January 21, the preferred option for the project is a full reconstruction of both the lower and upper boardwalk sections, using pressure-treated materials and updated engineering methods to improve long-term durability.
The estimated total cost is $179,000, including a $39,000 increase to the project’s capital budget to accommodate technical design, permitting, and project oversight.
Council also supported a motion from Councillor Carol Merton to seek public donations to support the project, including potentially creating a dedicated fundraising option on the City’s Canada Helps webpage.
Details of the donation process will be finalized by staff, who confirmed during the meeting that the existing Harrison Park Fund could be expanded or a new campaign could be launched specifically for the Weaver’s Creek project.
Next Steps: Consultation and Permitting
Before construction begins, the project will enter a consultation and permitting phase. This includes engaging with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON), applying for permits from the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority, and presenting the design to the Grey County Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Once those steps are complete, the design will be finalized, the project will go to tender, and construction is expected during the summer construction window from July to mid-September.
According to staff, the project is intended to improve accessibility, environmental stewardship, and public safety.
Although two short trail sections will remain as hard-packed granular paths, the boardwalk components will be rebuilt with a raised stone base and pressure-treated wood to better withstand the damp creek valley conditions that contributed to the rapid deterioration of the previous structure.
Past Delays and Budget Challenges
As previously reported by Bayshore Broadcasting in July 2022, the Weaver’s Creek Boardwalk had already been identified as a capital project in need of attention. However, its replacement was delayed due to budget constraints and the absence of partnership funding.
The boardwalk’s condition had been deteriorating for years, in part because it was originally built with cost-effective, locally sourced white cedar that was not pressure treated—materials that offered limited lifespan in a shaded, moisture-rich environment.
In discussions at the February 9 meeting, Council noted that concerns around lifecycle costs were discussed extensively at the committee level and emphasized that the new design aims to avoid repeating past material choices by selecting options with longer-term durability.
Councillor Melanie Middlebro also raised the potential for the City to seek capital funding for the project through the Owen Sound Tourism Development Fund. Staff confirmed that the next intake for that stream is open and under consideration, along with an accessibility grant application already submitted.
Council’s formal approval of the preferred design option and budget modification clears the way for staff to proceed with the rebuild, which has been designated as a short-term priority in the Harrison Park Master Plan.
Related:
