SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Summerside’s Baywalk is getting a facelift.
The city has set aside $400,000 in its budget to replace entire sections of the harbourfront boardwalk, which has been damaged by weather and use over the years.
Aaron MacDonald, the city’s director of technical services, said this is the first major repair effort since the Baywalk was built.
“We’ve done some maintenance over the years, but some parts of the boardwalk are 18 to 19 years old.”
The city conducted a replacement effort on Water Street, near Staples office supplies, in 2018.
“We replaced a section, as a trial. Now, we’re moving on to other sections. That was only Phase 1.”
The city plans to replace entire sections with new timber boards in what it expects to be a long-running project.
“It could take six to eight years, as the boardwalk is six kilometres to replace,” said MacDonald.
Long-time Summerside resident Ronald Deighan witnessed the boardwalk’s construction almost 20 years ago.
“It’s been great for the City of Summerside,” he said. “It just brightened up Summerside.”
Before the boardwalk was built, there was a seawall along Green’s Shore, which contributed to a foul odor from seaweed.
Deighan, 53, thinks the boardwalk has had an impact on the city, as well as its people.
“There’s green spaces for families to sit and have a picnic, the gazeboes, it’s unbelievable. It was a big facelift for Summerside.”
The replacement initiative is well worth the money, Deighan added.
“We pay taxes, and those taxes have to go to something. Might as well go to something like this where it could really use and benefit from.”