Waterfront Area & Open Space Plan

The community of Beaverton, with a population of 3,347[1] is located in Brock Township (in Durham Region) and is geographically situated on the eastern shores of Lake Simcoe. The Township’s location on Lake Simcoe and the Trent-Severn Waterway make it a popular destination for tourists in both summer and winter. It is a place where residents and visitors can enjoy the natural environment and participate in a variety of land and water-based activities. The waterfront area benefits from the natural beauty of Lake Simcoe, its close proximity to the historic downtown area and the presence of existing passive and active recreational facilities. It is also an access point on the trail system that links communities across Brock Township and the Regional trail system. The ongoing enhancement of the Beaverton Harbour and the associated connecting lands to downtown Beaverton is a priority for Brock Township Council.

Waterfront Area and Open Space Plan (Waterfront Plan)

The Township has developed a Waterfront Plan to provide a long-term vision for the waterfront on Lake Simcoe and the open space lands that connect Downtown Beaverton to the harbour on Lake Simcoe to capitalize on the many attributes of the community and its geographic location.

Objectives of this plan are to strengthen the role of the waterfront as a community and recreation hub; stimulate tourism and economic development; increase connections to Downtown Beaverton; and ensure its continued vitality for future generations.

The Township retained The Planning Partnership to lead the waterfront planning process. The study area included all public lands between the Beaverton Harbour and Mill Gateway Park adjacent to downtown Beaverton, including the Beaverton fairgrounds.

A comprehensive public consultation program was undertaken as part of the Waterfront Plan process, with a series of workshops, open houses and meetings to obtain input throughout the 14+ month long process. Through phase one consultation, the Township received many ideas and suggestions for the lands. Based on that feedback, the Township released 3 concept options in June 2023 and an interactive online survey to gather public input on the various elements proposed in each of the options. An emerging preferred plan was released in the fall of 2023 for further public consultation. The preferred plan considered the results of the online survey and other inputs from Township staff, the consultant team and other agency and public input.

On February 26, 2024, Township Council endorsed the Waterfront Area and Open Space Plan. The Waterfront Area and Open Space Plan will be used as input into the Township’s annual budget and business plan to help guide projects within the waterfront and open space areas.

The Waterfront Plan brings together the components and features from the concepts options developed throughout the process and presents a framework for guiding the detailed design of over 40 components projects. The Waterfront Plan is described according to the five areas of focus: the Beaverton Harbour, fairgrounds, railway parcels, Mill Gateway Park and downtown Beaverton. The plan includes some high level costs and proposed phasing, recognizing that this is a long term plan that will evolve over time.

Some projects will depend on further discussions with Federal Small Craft Harbours with respect to ownership and improvements to the piers at the harbour. Other components will depend on discussions with user groups, external agencies and community organizations, including, but not limited to, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, the Beaverton Lions Club, the Beaverton Agricultural Society and Beaverton and District Conservation Club.

[1] 2021 census data