Kelso Beach at Nawash Park Master Plan

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Consultation has concluded

The Kelso Beach at Nawash Park Master Plan is a tool to guide decision-making, and ensure Kelso Beach at Nawash Park continues to meet the needs of residents and visitors.

The current Master Plan, completed in 2010 by Northwood Associates Landscape Architects, has provided guidance in the operations and capital development for the 9.86 hectare shoreline property located at 100 19th Street West over the last 10 years. The plan included a schematic park design plan that was developed based on the needs of the community and public consultation.

The Draft Kelso Beach at Nawash Park Master Plan is now available for review and comment. Comments can be submitted using the Questions section and will be received until Sunday, November 27, 2022.

This updated master plan will continue to guide capital investments and park operations over the next decade. Complete the survey below to share your thoughts on the park, and the services or amenities you would like to see.

The Kelso Beach at Nawash Park Master Plan is a tool to guide decision-making, and ensure Kelso Beach at Nawash Park continues to meet the needs of residents and visitors.

The current Master Plan, completed in 2010 by Northwood Associates Landscape Architects, has provided guidance in the operations and capital development for the 9.86 hectare shoreline property located at 100 19th Street West over the last 10 years. The plan included a schematic park design plan that was developed based on the needs of the community and public consultation.

The Draft Kelso Beach at Nawash Park Master Plan is now available for review and comment. Comments can be submitted using the Questions section and will be received until Sunday, November 27, 2022.

This updated master plan will continue to guide capital investments and park operations over the next decade. Complete the survey below to share your thoughts on the park, and the services or amenities you would like to see.

Consultation has concluded

  • Park Location and History

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    Kelso Beach Park is located on the west shore of Owen Sound on Georgian Bay and is 9.86 hectares in size. It is classified in the City’s Official Plan (2006) as a “City Park” providing unique, specialized recreational facilities and services, serving users from throughout the City and adjacent communities

    Kelso Beach Park is a unique park in Owen Sound’s system of parks and open spaces. It has a complex combination of active and passive facilities and spaces – some very specialized – and is home to a number of significant, well-attended special events.

    The Park is partially on lands owned by the City of Owen Sound as well as lands leased from Transport Canada which include a water lot.

    The Park’s history includes an ancient Nawash settlement. The following is an excerpt from the 2010 Master Plan:

    “The mouth of the Pottawatomi River was the site of the First Nations ancient Nawash settlement. The Anishinaabe ‘territory’ extended from what is now Collingwood to Goderich. In the winter people moved in small groups in the hunting territories (coniferous forests) and each spring they returned to Nawash, a central location that was at the time a low-lying coastal wetland.

    The shores of the bay have been filled over the years to make the land more usable for shipping and industrial purposes (e.g., wharfs, grain elevators) and to create Kelso Beach Park. The ‘clean up’ of the waterfront to create a beach was reportedly initiated and organized by Henry Kelso. For many years Kelso Beach Park was a flat, low and fairly open park, notoriously wet (soggy) with a small sandy beach, washrooms/change rooms and a picnic shelter.

    In 1976 the Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival was first held at Kelso Beach. The music festival was the catalyst for the redevelopment of the park in 1982 -83. Designed by landscape architects Gotfryd and Findlay and constructed by Harold Sutherland Construction, the new design included parking, a large amphitheatre, playing fields, plantings, playgrounds and walkways.

    Other ad hoc modifications have been made to the park over the years, including addition of a roof over the main stage, the Summerfolk Circle (trees and stones) and a gazebo, and replacement of the playground.”

  • Existing Features, Buildings and Amenities

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    The Park has evolved since the 1970s and today, the City operates and maintains a variety of buildings, structures and recreational features at Kelso Beach Park, detailed in table 2, each serving distinct functions and park uses.

    Amenities

    Function

    Amphitheatre Pavilion

    2,500 seating capacity on seating boulders + 500 on grass area at top + 500 on four sets of portable bleachers added at the top during Summerfolk
    • Performances
    • Back of house during large events
    • Community rentals
    • Stage roof

    Electrical Plant A
    • Main service and switches into the park from Hydro One

    Electrical Plant B
    • Main stage electrical

    Electrical Plant C
    • Main switch from Hydro One and system distribution throughout the park
    • Electrical system distribution to vendor pedestals, and event pedestals

    Kelso Beach Gazebo
    • Booked for small events and also open for passive community use

    Good Cheer Washroom/Changeroom
    • Public washroom and changeroom
    • Community rentals
    • Public washroom

    Change area for adjacent splash pad

    Splash Pad Pump House

    Splash pad mechanical infrastructure

    Beach washroom
    • Used only for large events – otherwise closed
    • Public washroom

    Asphalt and Crushed Stone Trails
    • Passive community use
    • Interior park circulation
    • Connecting links to the Waterfront Trail (south) and Georgian Bay Trail (north)
    • Provides access for certain parks maintenance activities

    Ball Diamond

    Natural Turf Sports Field
    • Community and sport group rentals
    • Community use when not rented

    Splash Pad
    • Open Victoria Day to Thanksgiving annually

    Playground
    • Passive community use April to October
    • No winter maintenance

    Parking Area
    • Passive community use
    • Limited winter maintenance

    Summerfolk Circle Green Space
    • Passive community use
    • Friendship and gathering location for Summerfolk

    1.5 km of trails
    • Passive community use
    • Historically, no winter maintenance
    • Winter 2021/2022 limited trail winter maintenance trial

    Storm water channel and walled outlet
    • Collect and channel stormwater from the Brooke basin area
    • Aesthetic focal point of the central area of the park

    Beach area with shoreline protection
    • Passive community use
    • Waterfront access for recreation

    Gitche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden
    • A space for reflection and reconciliation
    • A space for Indigenous celebrations at Park

    Walking is Medicine sculptures (portion of tour)
    • Self guided educational tour focusing on historical indigenous sites in Brooke

    Pedestrian Bridge over Pottawatomi River
    • Connecting link between internal park trails and Waterfront Trail to the south of the park

    Stone pedestrian bridge over storm outfall
    • Internal pedestrian link connecting the north and south portions of the park

  • Completed Initiatives of Note

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    There are four significant projects contemplated by the 2010 plan that have been completed that merit further description:

    • Phragmites Eradication
    • Gitche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden
    • Walking is Medicine Tour
    • Electrical Infrastructure Renewal and Update – Design and Engineering

    Gitche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden

    The 2010 Kelso Beach Master Plan recognized the history of the park as the site of the First Nations of Nawash settlement. The Anishinaabe territory extended from Collingwood to Goderich. In winter, people moved in small groups to hunting areas but in the spring, they returned to Nawash. Kelso Beach Park is located at the Nawash settlement area.

    Community input during the 2010 Master Plan process highlighted opportunities to celebrate the early history of the park, including the Piyak Ootihi or One Heart Memorial Garden centred on alignment of the existing pedestrian bridge.

    In May 2013, Council approved the garden and design to be built in stages. On October 2, 2021, a sculpture of Grandmother Sturgeon was placed at the Garden, completing the last major design element of the garden. This sculpture was installed and dedicated in a ceremony on October 2, 2021.

    The One Heart Memorial Garden projects evolved to be known as the Gitche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden.

    Pottawatomi Healing Trail

    The One Heart Garden is reflected as a priority in the park following Phragmites control, site servicing improvements and the splash pad.

    The Garden is intended to help all cultures within our community move forward with shared understanding and respect, humility, and love in our hearts; it helps all to walk softly and be ever mindful. The art pieces share Indigenous culture and healing practices.

    Since 2010, the Potawatomi Healing Trail evolved to become known as a portion of the Walking is Medicine self guided walking tour through Brooke.