2024 mid-term progress report
Strategic Priority: Waterfront Development
Indicators:
Interim Report: where we are and where we are headed
Inventory of waterfront parkland
- 80 acres of public waterfront property or park space available or in use.
- 11.5 km of waterfront trails and connectors.
Why this matters?
Allocating waterfront land to public use is crucial for fostering a vibrant community. It provides accessible recreational spaces, promotes physical activity and well-being. Public waterfronts can boost local economies by attracting tourists and supporting small businesses. They also enhance the aesthetic appeal of the area, creating a sense of pride and connection for the community.
What does this mean?
Inventorying our available waterfront park space sets the stage for the Town to complete a Waterfront Master Plan within the next 2 years, which will help guide growth and development of the waterfront.
Usage of waterfront land
Why this matters?
Measuring levels of waterfront usage is important to indicate whether the area is meeting the community’s needs. A high number of visitors shows the waterfront is easy to get to, connected to the community, and offers enjoyable activities. This information (data) helps make good decisions about future improvements. It also highlights areas for improvement to ensure the waterfront remains a vibrant and welcoming space for everyone.
What does this mean?
Traffic and pedestrian data collected in 2022 identified increased attendance at Midland's 5 major events and festivals held near the waterfront, increased traffic from visiting cruise ships and consistent use of Midland Harbour, the boat launch and waterfront parks. Town events attract 60,000 to 100,000 visitors to the waterfront.
Community engagement for waterfront development
- These activities are planned for 2025
Why this matters?
Engaging the public early in the planning for waterfront development is crucial to ensure the community's needs and wishes are heard. Community input provides different and valuable perspectives that contribute to the success of the project. Public engagement fosters trust in the municipality, gives the community sense of pride, and the knowledge that their opinions matter.
What does this mean?
Several formal public engagement activities are planned for 2025. The Official Plan provides policy direction on public involvement and consultation to be completed and encourages a range of approaches and methods in addition to those required legislatively by the Planning Act. Similarly, the Waterfront Master Plan update scheduled for 2025 will include public engagement activities. In addition, an extensive project to development land along the waterfront will include public engagement activities.
Interim Report
Where we are and where we are headed
Ongoing development of our waterfront is crucial for the Town’s growth and prosperity. Not only is the waterfront a key part of our identity, but it also offers a wide range of recreational, economic, cultural, and social benefits to the community. Since 2022, the waterfront has attracted approximately 100K visitors annually to Midland with major events such as our signature Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival, and international cruise ships that now include Midland as a port of call on their voyages.
Midland's waterfront area is home to 11 parks, 3 public beaches, and over 12 km of walking and biking trails, offering residents and visitors opportunities for recreation on and off the water. The waterfront parks offer various outdoor activities, including biking, hiking, and picnicking, making it a central hub for community gatherings and events. Since 2022, we have invested in upgraded trail lighting and playground equipment in our parks.
Midland has a public boat launch, a pier and a harbour that attracts boaters and serves the community. Enhancements completed since 2022 include security measures for overnight boaters, repair and beautification projects for the Centre pier, and a water mapping survey of the Harbour and the Midland Bay Landing site to improve boater safety. In 2023, Midland waived boat launch permit fees to restore unimpeded access to the bay for our Indigenous community.
The waterfront area features public art and murals that enhance the town’s cultural landscape. Midland recognizes that public art enriches the places where people live, work, and play, and has invested 3 murals, 1 digital art installation on the shipping container and 1 monument (Birth of a Navy) along the waterfront. Over $50,000 has been invested in public art with over $38,000 funded by grants. In addition to public art, the Town has hosted 5 major festivals along the waterfront since 2022, including the Town’s signature Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival, Tall Ships Festival, Tugboat Festival, the Fishing Derby and the first Mural Festival held in 2024.
In 2025, work will begin on a Waterfront Master Plan. Creating a Waterfront Master Plan is a collaborative and iterative process that aims to enhance the waterfront’s value for the community while promoting financial and environmental sustainability and resilience. This planned development process will include formal engagement activities for our community and stakeholders to provide input and feedback on how we develop and operate our waterfront, as well ensuring there is a connection to our Downtown.
Development projects like the Midland Bay Landing Development aim to transform former industrial waterfront properties into vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods. This 32-acre development will rejuvenate Midland and our historic downtown. Based on Council’s priorities and reflecting the importance of this development to the community, Midland will engage an experienced partner to develop and market the project globally based on market analysis, stakeholder engagement and financial sustainability. This partner will be selected in Q4 2024, with a further goal of selecting a development partner in this term of Council.