CORNER BROOK The City of Corner Brook should know any day now how much money it can direct towards the continuing development of Bartlett’s Point.
The historic waterfront property off Petries Street in Curling was considered one of the priorities for development as a tourism attraction, as highlighted in the recreational master plan the city had done two years ago.
Work on the more than $1.2-million project to turn the overgrown field into an attractive park area began last year.
Carried out by the Corner Brook Stream Development Corporation, the work so far has included improving the road and pedestrian access to the park area from the adjacent Allen’s Cove Marina. A service road accessed from Petries Street has also been roughed in.
A service building, containing washrooms and a storage area has been built, plus a septic field installed. Concrete footings for about a dozen light standards, plus the conduits for underground wiring are in place.
Mike Dolter, the City of Corner Brook’s chief administrative officer, said the city is still awaiting its capital works budget from the provincial government before determining how much more can get done this summer.
“We may not get what we’ve asked for, so we may need to shift some priorities,” Dolter said of the budgetary process. “We have budgeted so much for Bartlett’s Point, but we may have to make some adjustments.”
Brent Humphries, executive director of the Corner Brook Stream Trail Development Corporation, has a plan for what he would like to get done this year.
“We have the bulk of the building done, but there is still some finish work that needs to be done,” he said. “From there, we’ll continue developing trails throughout the site that we made a start on last year.”
The site’s groundwork, including more drainage to dry out the land, should also include stone seating features down by the beach section. Near the remains of the foundation for the property’s old homestead, a lookout area with a view of the bay out over the marina is in the works.
“We will also continue with the electrical work,” added Humphries. “I don’t know how much further than that we will get this year.”
Eventually, the project will include gazebos and site furniture, plus a playground area down near the beach.
