Sewage lagoon out, boardwalk in Stratford's new waterfront plan taking shape

The Town of Stratford, P.E.I.,is finalizing plans for its new waterfront area, now that itssewage lagoon has been decommissioned and is about to be infilled.

For years, those living, visiting or travelling through the town were greeted by the sometimes-pungent stench from thelagoon. Now, the town's wastewater is flowing through a pipeline built across the Hillsborough Bridgeto be treated in Charlottetown.

Towncouncil recently passed a resolution to adopt a conceptual plan for thewaterfront'sdevelopment.

"It'll be completely filled in and graded. That's one of the reasons we had to get this concept plan finalized because the grading plan, whatever the plan is, will govern how the area is graded because we need certain amounts of fill in certain areas to accommodate the designs," Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden said.

The mayor said grass will be planted on the old sewage area, and hehopes people will be able to use the space next spring.

The main entrance to the waterfront will have a welcoming area dedicated to local Indigenous runner Michael Thomas, Ogden said.

"This was an area that was well used by the Mi'kmaq people. We have a statue of Michael Thomas. It will be a focal point for the park, there will be an area for reflection and an area to celebrate our heritage."

Gradual development is the plan

The waterfront will slowly be built up over the next 20 years or so, said Ogden.

The development and how quickly it goes up will be up to the public.

"If they want to see it developed faster, we'll have to find another source of funding, or another way to pay for it."

The plan also includes a boardwalk andactive transportation trails andto connect to a large network oftrails in the area. The project will take up about three hectares, or seven acres, of waterfront land.

Thecost for the initial waterfront work is $1.5 million. Ogden saida majority of the money is federal dollars, fromgas tax.

But for the whole concept to become a reality, the mayor said it will take about $12.5 million.