Residents of Kingston are seeking more accessible swimming spaces due to recent overcrowding at Breakwater Park.
The city of Kingston has introduced new swimming areas, such as Richardson Beach, and has hosted events at Grass Creek Park to promote other beach areas, but beachgoers have ultimately chosen Breakwater Park as their designated swimming area.
Red Squirrel Cafe Owner, Wynne Stevenson, runs a mobile espresso bar and often serves cold drinks to visitors of Breakwater Park. She started selling beverages this summer and has witnessed the groups who frequent the beach, and believes people who visit are attracted to the sandy area and accessibility to the downtown area.
“Lake Ontario Park is not as easily accessed, as there is a steep hill to get down to get there, not much space to lay out and tan by the water and not as much area by the water to play games like volleyball or spike ball. People play a lot of those types of games at the pier. I also think the feeling of being right downtown but at the beach is appealing to people,” said Stevenson.
Stevenson was selling cold drinks at Breakwater Park during Canada Day celebrations and described the large crowd.
“While it was very busy, it wasn’t overwhelming for me. We did serve a lot of lemonade. We went through 30 litres,” said Stevenson.
Although beachgoers cite similar reasons as Stevenson for visiting the beach, the large crowds have kept some people from enjoying Breakwater Park.
A Reddit user shared a photo from Breakwater Park on June 27, the weekend ahead of Canada Day and Queen’s University convocation ceremonies, showing a large crowd on the beach. Many people visiting the beach that day expressed frustration in the Reddit post’s comment section.
One user wrote, “We tried to go down and spent 40 minutes looking for a parking spot…then gave up and went home.” Another person commented, “This is proof that more beaches are needed in Kingston, the waterfront city, for everyone to enjoy.”
In an interview with YGK News, Councillor Conny Glenn discussed city council’s deliberations regarding accessible swimming spaces.
“I think swimming’s been an issue for this council for some time; we’re working on really improving that space,” Coun. Glenn shared that the city is planning improvements for downtown Kingston’s waterfront. “We’re looking at moving ahead with the Confederation Basin Project, which would improve access to the water.” Coun. Glenn continued.
The Confederation Basin Promenade Project is a plan to build on the existing rock shoreline structure that shelters Confederation Basin Park, adding improvements such as an enhanced entry area, additional seating, and water access for swimming.
The project’s construction is anticipated for 2027. Until then, Coun. Glenn is working with local by-law officers to ensure safety during periods of overcrowding at Breakwater Park.
“We are discussing what to do with it, but it’s a relatively new phenomenon in the last couple of years to see that level of engagement in that area and that number of people,” said Coun. Glenn.
By-law officers are currently unable to step in when the beach hosts large crowds.
In a statement to YGK News, City of Kingston By-law Enforcement Services said, “While officers may respond to complaints regarding specific by-law violations such as prohibited activities, noise, or other matters within our enforcement authority, the presence of a large number of people at Breakwater Park, in and of itself, is not a by-law violation.”
Although overcrowding at Breakwater Park is not a by-law violation, city staff and by-law officers are actively discussing their course of action regarding public safety ahead of upcoming summer events and long weekends.
