The City of St. Catharines has received $4.4 million the Ontario government for its Sunset Beach renovation project.

The city announced the funding on March 24. The money is being provided through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).

“This grant is going to go a long way toward achieving the community vision set out for Sunset Beach,” said Eric Lamothe, the city’s manager of business planning and strategic services. “We are looking forward to completing these improvements which will contribute to a more enjoyable experience for beachgoing residents.”

The project is set to take place in two parts. Phase one starts this fall and will include improvements to the parking lot, reconstruction of the existing boat ramp and shoreline protection efforts.

Phase two will include improvements to existing park amenities such as trails and picnic tables and a complete replacement of the playground structure.

"Sunset Beach has been a favourite lakefront destination for families in St. Catharines for generations," said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West. "This announcement of funding to support infrastructure improvements of the parking lot, boat ramp and existing park amenities, as well as shoreline protection efforts, will ensure the city beach is able to serve local residents for years to come."

The project is part of the Sunset Beach Community Vision which was approved by city council in July 2019.

In November of that year, staff applied to the Community, Culture and Recreation stream of the ICIP grant. The funding ended up being granted under the Strategic Priorities Infrastructure Fund – Sport and Community Renewal sub-stream.

The provincial grant will cover 73 percent of the total cost project, with the city on the hook for the remaining 27 percent, or about $1.6 million.

“This investment from the province allows the City of St. Catharines to continue building the vision we have for Sunset Beach,” said Mayor Mat Siscoe. “Improvements to the overall accessibility of the site mean that more members of the community will be able to enjoy one of the gems in our city’s north end.”

The City’s contributions to the project costs are included in the annual capital budget with $800,000 approved in the 2023 budget for phase one, and a 2024 future capital forecast of $800,000 for phase two.

Renovations are expected to begin on October 1.