Westboro Beach is a key hub on the Ottawa side of the historic Ottawa River.
The NCC is creating a more vibrant, active space that will improve the quality of life of residents and the experience of visitors.
The latest on the project
Closure of Westboro Beach for summer 2022
Construction is ongoing. For this reason, Westboro Beach — including the parking lot — is closed for the summer of 2022. This temporary closure is necessary for security reasons, and because the areas surrounding the beach will be used for construction staging.
The Capital Pathway at Westboro Beach will also be closed intermittently. The NCC will have detours in place during most of the construction period.
What to expect from the final design
The Board of Directors approved the final design for the Westboro Beach pavilion and landscape on April 7, 2022. Improvement on the site will include:
- New zero-carbon pavilion with restaurant and community space
- Rehabilitated heritage structure featuring modern accessible and gender-neutral washrooms
- Universally accessible pathways and water access
- Riverfront lookouts with interpretive content about the history of site
- Children’s play area thematically linked to the site’s history
- Picnic and volleyball areas
- Outdoor showers
As part of the revitalization of Westboro Beach, the NCC will convert the existing parking lot at Kitchissippi Lookout into green space and a park, and is building a new parking lot on the other side of the parkway.
About the project
Westboro Beach is one of the green spaces covered by the Ottawa River South Shore Riverfront Park Plan. The plan calls for the creation of a continuous, 9-km riverfront park connecting LeBreton Flats to Mud Lake. It also provides guidance on facilities, amenities and design improvements needed at Westboro Beach.
The NCC and the City of Ottawa have an agreement for the light rail transit Stage 2 project. As part of this agreement, the City will finance parkland improvements on a 2.5-km stretch of the riverfront park, including the proposed improvements at Westboro Beach.
Project Milestones
The Westboro Beach area redevelopment project is one of the first steps in making the Ottawa River South Shore Riverfront Park Plan a reality.
- Community meeting about Westboro Beach parking lot (south side)
- Ottawa River South Shore Riverfront Park plan approved by NCC Board of Directors (June)
- Internal design competition (March–October)
- Two in-person workshops and one online public consultation (April–June)
- Demolition of two derelict buildings at 234 Atlantis Avenue (June)
- Public consultations on the proposed design (winter)
- Detailed design and tendering for the Westboro Beach pavilion and landscape plan
- Proposed schematic design submitted to NCC Board of Directors (January)
- Construction of services, as well as parkway intersection and realignment by City of Ottawa’s LRT contractors
- Construction of the Westboro Beach parking lot (on the other side of the parkway)
- Final design approved by NCC Board of Directors (April)
- Construction of the new and revitalized Westboro Beach pavilion and landscape
Public engagement
For an overview of what we have heard throughout this process, see the public consultation reports.