City of Kingston - Richardson Beach Plans

I plan to attend the meeting at the Merchant. I've been talking about the plans at the beach with others. In addition to the other points, we've been considering the prospects of more ducks swimming in the protected area in and around the groin as they do at the West St. boat ramp (by the 100's). The impact on water quality at our relatively clean beach could be significant if they congregate in greater numbers i.e. duck crap.

Kristin

Productive meeting tonight, thanks to those who participated and lent their thoughts to the process.

I will draft a letter up and email directly to those who attended for a quick look over and comments. Kristin I do not have your direct email, can you send it to me? I will try to do this in short order, so we can submit prior to the 15th deadline. This means I need your assistance in getting back to me with comments/corrections ASAP! The meeting will likely take place in late August.

If there are any other KBA members interested in having a look at the draft letter, let me know.

Mike

Hey Mike. Thanks for organizing the meeting. It was a good airing of the issues and sentiments. Before I send you my e-mail address, I have to admit I'm a 1st time kook on this forum stuff, so I want to ensure this is not being aired for the world to see. I hit permalink to respond. Is this only to you and my address will remain private otherwise? If not, I think I can get your address and e-mail you.

Kristin

No worries. Within the forum, there is a 'pm' feature, for 'private messages', which are indeed private. To access that, click on the username of interest and then the envelop (email) icon. That should bring you to a window to write a private message.

Obviously I have your email now though.

To ALL KBA Members,

I've finished drafting the letter to the City from the KBA with respect to the Richardson Beach improvement plans.

If you are interested to have a look and provide comments, let me know. Saying that though, I have to look ahead to getting this done early next week to meet the Aug15 deadline for feedback. So, I may not take you too seriously if you are cropping up with feedback in the 11th hour having not shown earlier interest. (Sorry to be a dick, but it's gotta get finalized and we already met to debate it all last night, everyone was invited).

Another note: We really do want this forum to be THE VENUE for KBA discussion, meeting, etc... and value your participation. I know there are those that shy away from forums despite being daily regulars to their computers. Fair enough. But, if you do want to participate and help when the club needs help, or be included when we form 'unified KBA opinions', then I encourgage you to join and participate. It's the only way. Gone is the hayday of mailings and phonecalls. Welcome to the 90's... ;) The pulse of the KBA is probably just sufficient to keep this going.

Cheers,
Mike

It's been a while since we talked about the status of the proposed groin at Richardson Beach and I don't want to let this die. The last I heard, the KBA letter was submitted (thanks again to Mike and Craig for spearheading this and Mike for writing the response). I understood that KBA reps were invited to meet with the City to discuss this further, but we haven't heard anything more on this. Has any meeting been held, and if so, with whom (from both KBA and City), and what has been discussed?

Over the summer and fall of sailing at Emily St. (even if it wasn't as much as I'd have liked/should have) and hanging out at the beach, I've become increasingly both disappointed and discouraged with the possibility of this groin being constructed. I just can't imagine what an eyesore it will be and how it may negatively affect the launch and jibe area and be ineffective and possibly dangerous in the intended goal of getting people in the water to actually swim there. So - any news/update on this topic would be appreciated. Gracias!

Kristin

Not much has happened yet. Meeting is scheduled for Nov 14. We'll see.

She said Groin.

Apparently that's the US spelling for groyne. It's still 2 big long piles of rocks.

Hi Everyone,

Greg and I met with the City last week and I'd say the meeting was not that productive, in light of the fact our main point of contention is the groyne.

As we expected, the groyne is practically a done deal. They've got most approvals they need, they've got the general public on their side and they've got numerous stakeholders wondering why it is taking so long. Very frustrating for us windsurfers, yes, that no options were presented to the public, particularly being such a focal landmark in the City. In our view, this is very much a flawed design. Windsurfing aside, in my opinion, it will unpleasant for swimming too. Who wants to climb in off an unnatural structure like that?!? There are many options out there that could actually improve the access from the beach itself... I can sketch something up myself.

I'm putting $20 on the table to bet that it will be cordoned off-limits within 3yrs after installation. Anyone wanna venture a bet on how many people will lose fins? Will anyone get battered there on a highwind day? I don't know if I'd even sail there anymore.

Saying all that, some positivity did come out of the meeting on the other aspects of the design for Richardson Beach, namely all the on-shore stuff (that has no budget yet). While we did not rehash all the points in our letter, we made it clear that the decline in open space and the lack of new parking were undesirable from our perspective. Also, it was identified that there was no maintenance of an 'access corridor' for us to get to the water, with the hedge and proposed trees.

We were happy to hear that the City is listening on these aspects, and they in turn requested some idea of what we need in the way of space - for rigging and for a pathway to the water. In essence, they want some guidance in coming up with an on-shore landscape plan that will work for us windsurfers too.

To all those out there who are not impressed at the groyne design and lack of public consultation, I highly recommend writing to the City individually and to your councillor and the councillor of Sydenham Ward - Bill Glover (bglover@cityofkingston.ca). It is not built yet, and if you want to voice your opinion - do it.

Mike

Mike and Greg - Thanks for attending this meeting to represent the KBA interests (and hopefully those of any windsurfers who launch from and use Richardson Beach). It's disappointing how little input was considered from the full stakeholder group before approvals were granted for this groyne as the most intrusive part of the plan. Why did they bother inviting responses to the plan if it's a fait accompli - at least the groyne? I truly can't imagine trying to swim in/through that structure, let alone the visual impact and impact on the launch and gibe area. I plan to make my views known; Bill Glover is our councillor. I'll think again about the space needs and landscaping plans in hopes that I can add something worthwhile for consideration.

Kristin