After years of planning and months of development, complete with a few setbacks, the redesigned Westview waterfront is now taking shape and is in the final stages of work before being open to the public.
As a city we should all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Yes, it has been expensive and sure, maybe not everyone supported the development, but in the end this is going to be an enormous asset for the community.
For years, visitors have been greeted by a dilapidated wharf and a dusty waterfront that looked like it came straight out of the industrial 1970s. That suited the town just fine when it was a mill town, but it’s not predominantly a mill town anymore and our entrance should reflect that.
Tourism is now a big part of our local economy and the new waterfront is perhaps the single most important venture we could undertake to promote that. Not only will it be more pleasing and welcoming for visitors, but it will give more people the opportunity to visit with increased dock space and facilities for boaters.
The development is not just for people visiting Powell River but for the residents already here too. The stage will be a great location for casual summer music performances, and the way the end of the pier has been left open for fishing shows an understanding and celebration of the culture of this city. Local residents using the north harbour will also find benefits with the revamped wharfs.
There is more work to be done and let’s hope it is completed soon. The best way to annoy locals will be for City of Powell River to open up this aesthetically pleasing entrance and then take its time to fix the boat launch, which is by many accounts bordering on impossible to use. There’s also the old barge facility, which will stick out dramatically now that everything else is looking so improved. And it’s going to be a big job, but extending the seawalk clear through to the Wharf at Westview will tie the whole area together.
For now though, let’s celebrate the work that is being finished and feel proud of our new, welcoming waterfront.
