Waterfront Visioning Principles
IN THIS SECTION
Find out about plans for shoreline restoration and waterfront pathway improvements
Background on consultation and process that developed the Waterfront Strategy.
RELATED LINK
Visit the Waterfront Regeneration 
Trust
Web site for more information about the Waterfront Trail.
Please note: These principles are the results of a brainstorming session; they do not necessarily represent a consensus or specific decisions of Council. However, these principles came out of the November 29, 2001, workshop and provide an excellent starting point for public discussions and activities of Council.
Principles for the Waterfront
As Council members discussed their assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of today's waterfront, and shared their ideas for the future, a number of principles became apparent. Councillors would like the Kingston waterfront to be accessible, beautiful, clean, natural, historic and lively. They focused on looking at the "big picture" and took a comprehensive view of the entire Kingston waterfront.
ACCESSIBLE
- continuous, connected, multi-use pathway
- public access all along the waterfront should include pathways, nodes, and direct access such as boat ramps
- multi-use waterfront - walking, cycling, swimming, fishing, recreation, restaurants, cafes
- all users and abilities (including physically challenged)
- trail loops such as the K & P (Kingston & Pembroke) right-of-way to Rideau Trail to waterfront
- visual access e.g. sightlines, vistas, street ends (note from staff: the former City Official Plan has policies regarding the protection of waterfront vantage points and streets that terminate at the waterfront)
- maintain existing views of the waterfront and create wider vistas where possible
- control density and design (for example higher buildings will take up less space leaving more open space around buildings)
- judicious waterfront filling to create new pathways, parks, parkettes
- respect existing private properties and uses along the waterfront
BEAUTIFUL
- better overall design and architectural quality
- bring fragmented pieces together
- integrate downtown waterfront such as City Hall/Park with Marine Museum and with the downtown
CLEAN
- protect from further environmental damage
- clean up, restore and remediate areas of great potential such as Inner Harbour area and Belle Island
- pollution free waterfront (e.g. complete the upgrades so people can swim all the time)
- restore Elevator Bay to a public sandy beach
NATURAL
- protect and enhance natural beauty
- improve open spaces and environmental conditions
HISTORIC
- maintain and improve historic and cultural sites
- emphasize Kingston's past such as Fort Henry, locks stations, City Hall
LIVELY
- areas to sit down, relax, "have a beer", socialize
- areas for special events/tourism/recreation
- increase the number of special places, celebrations, festivals, nodes along waterfront
- link to downtown
