Toronto's Ward's Island could be getting a new beach (RENDERINGS)

As the city continues to fight to protect the Toronto Islands from flooding, a new report prepared for the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has proposed building a new beach on Ward’s Island for the same reason.

It’s a project that has a total estimated cost between $13.9 million and $16 million depending on the chosen flood protection option for the Island.

Prepared by W.F. Baird & Associates Coastal Engineers Ltd., the project includes “protecting low-lying residential areas with berms [raised barrier] or dyke structures, elevating low-lying roads, increasing the crest elevation of shore protection structures, and directing surface drainage to sumps that were installed in 2018.”

The project would also include the addition of a new beach and promenade on Ward’s Island, running north from the existing ferry docks, similar to a design Baird has used on other projects, including the Rockley Boardwalk in Barbados, according to the report.

“The promenade is intended to draw in visitors disembarking from the ferry and direct them along the shoreline rather than down residential streets,” reads the report.

Ward’s Island Promenade

See also

• Strong winds cause parts of Toronto Islands to face 'significant flooding'
• City making efforts to keep water levels at bay on Toronto Islands (PHOTOS)
• Lake Ontario now matching extreme 2017 water levels that flooded Toronto Islands

Focused on “community-scale flood protection measures,” the report highlights several “flood mitigation alternatives” that would help protect areas on the Islands that were most affected by the extreme 2017 flooding situation, which cost $8 million in damages and losses to the city.

In addition to four different promenade options for Ward’s Island, the proposal also includes flood walls for Algonquin Island, elevating the Centreville train tracks, adding a concrete wall along the existing seawall at the Island Water Treatment plant, and elevating arterial roads.

Option 1 Ward’s Island Promenade

Option 1 would see a promenade extend from the Ward’s Island ferry dock to the intersection of First Avenue and Lakeshore Avenue. It would also include three groynes, three beaches, and a pedestrian bridge over the Ward’s Island cove.

Option 2, while similar, would see a shorter promenade extend from the Ward’s Island ferry dock to the intersection of Bayview Avenue and Third Avenue, and just two groynes and two beaches.

Option 3 includes an even shorter promenade extending from the Ward’s Island ferry dock to the first groyne and just one beach, while Option 4 includes just a berm along the shoreline from the Ward’s Island ferry dock to the intersection of First Avenue and Lakeshore Avenue.

Option 2 Ward’s Island Promenade

Joe Cressy, city councillor for Ward 10 Spadina—Fort York, which includes the islands, said, “with accelerating climate change annual sandbagging efforts is no longer tenable. Permanent resilience is required.”

This morning the Toronto Region Conservation Authority is discussing a new report on long-term flood protection and adaptation measures for Toronto Islands. With accelerating climate change annual sandbagging efforts is no longer tenable. Permanent resilience is required.

— Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) June 21, 2019

Flooding on the Islands began in early May and luckily the city had proper preventative measures in place to help curb wide-spread flooding, including thousands of sandbags and industrial water pumps.

Currently, the ferries to Centre Island and Ward’s Island remain operational, while the Hanlan’s Point ferry remains out of service due to high lake levels.

Additionally, a shoreline hazard warning remains in effect, reminding the public to exercise caution while walking along the water, especially during times of heavy wind or wave activity, which make boardwalks and other pathways along Lake Ontario’s waterfront dangerous.