September 13, 2026
1449
Kincardine council has agreed to hire a landscape architect to come up with a conceptual design for the lands currently used by the Bluewater Trailer Park, located on Saugeen Street, between Lambton and Durham Streets, in the Town of Kincardine.
At the meeting Wednesday night (Sept. 9), council decided to separate the original motion, relating to the trailer park lands, into two motions.
The first was approved quickly, directing staff to make the legal opinion and associated documentation available to the public through the municipality's website and social media channels.
The second was to direct staff to include the retention of a landscape architect, at an estimated cost of $35,000, to prepare a design plan for the trailer park lands, for consideration in the mayor's 2027 budget.
In his report to council, chief administrative officer (CAO) Alan Smith explained that back in September, 2024, council approved a three-year agreement with Lisa Stacey to manage the Bluewater Trailer Park until Oct. 31, 2027, when it would cease to be a trailer park. This decision stemmed from the legal and consultant's opinion, regarding the permitted use of land currently associated with the trailer park and Macpherson Park, and the report on the trailer park provided in the Waterfront master Plan.
The legal opinion assessed whether continued trailer park use is consistent with the purposes for which the lands were originally dedicated. The lands were identified as likely having been dedicated to the municipality for public purposes, specifically for use as a public park, garden, or walkway. The legal opinion concludes that trailer park use does not appear to be consistent with those original purposes.
Macpherson Park was identified as being subject to a clear requirement that the land continue to be used for public park purposes. The legal opinion notes that if those lands stop being used as a public park, there is a risk of the lands reverting back to the donor or the donor’s successors or assigns. Consequently, council directed that all tenants of the Bluewater Trailer Park vacate the site by Oct. 31, 2027.
To promote transparency, council is releasing the following information that was provided to members in closed session: Summary – Legal Opinion (July 21, 2026), Legal Opinion – Bluewater Trailer Park/Macpherson Park (Feb. 4, 2024), and Bluewater Trailer Park – Confidential Property Matter (McQueen Galloway Associates). The release of this documentation is intended to support transparency by providing residents, tenants, and interested parties with information about the legal rationale that informed council’s decision. For more details, visit www.kincardine.ca/Trailer-Park.
As to the future of these lands, the CAO's report recommends retaining the services of a landscape architect who has experience in park design and public consultation. The consultant would work with the community on developing a plan for the property around the intended purposes for which the lands were originally dedicated - public park, garden or walkway.
The process could include:
Working with staff to develop three concepts for a passive park that suits the environment while complementing the other amenities already available nearby. This would include an assessment of the current state of the park. It is anticipated there would be work required to return the land to a passive park environment, such as removal of trailer servicing.
Hosting one to two public engagement sessions to solicit public feedback on the concepts (on-line options for feedback would be made available as well over a defined period).
Working with staff to develop a “what we heard” report for the public and generate a final concept design for presentation to council.
Presenting the final concept for council approval with an estimated budget for construction.
Preparing construction drawings and tender package for construction (if approved). Construction would likely occur as part of the 2028 budget.
Smith emphasized that the first priority is to gather public input. Once that is completed, council could then determine the direction of the three conceptual design plans. "Public consultation will be the foundation of the plan/design that council will undertake," he said.
"The public needs a say in this, and needs to get involved with this," said councillor Bill Stewart. "We've seen a lot of anger about this on our website and social media."
"It's important to get a plan from the people before any designs are drawn up," agreed councillor Jennifer Prenger.
"That is the intent," said mayor Kenneth Craig. "It could be two different people - a consultant and a designer - or it could be one company. We hear from the public and then send that to a professional team."
Stewart noted that two parcels of the trailer park lands belong to the municipality, while the other two are held in trust. "It's a difficult situation but I'm interested in getting the public consultation first."
Craig said that the legal opinion is correct. "We're not wandering down that again."
"As I said, it's a difficult situation," replied Stewart. "The legal opinion is for Lots 5 and 6, but Lots 7 and 8 belong to us so we have more flexibility with them."
In the final vote, council agreed to include the retention of a landscape architect, at an estimated cost of $35,000, to prepare a design plan for the trailer park lands, for consideration in the mayor's 2027 budget. Stewart was the only voice against.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
To all ratepayers and voters: As always, it is important to reflect on councillors' past term and the actions that they have put in place on behalf of the ratepayers. With taxation in mind, reflecting back on the money spent to beautify and maintain Station Beach, and the return seems to have been to enhance a destination for day-tourists to park and picnic for free with their provisions, food, gas and other needs brought from their home loacale. Ratepayers who provide the facilities are unable to or limited to access due to availability. Reflect back on the immediate removal of the footbridge at the South Street access due to erosion concerns of Kincardine Creek, erosion concerns of banks and properties still not addressed but the long-time bridge is gone. Reflect on the Secord Monument issue and removal then demolition of an appreciative symbol regarding a popular and generous Kincardine doctor. Now, reflect on the Kincardine property known today as the Bluewater Trailer Park, known to be inhabited by shoppers of Kincardine businesses, community volunteers, many past residents have purchased property and have become ratepayers, themselves, some are both. This facility pays to the town $35,000, plus or minus, provides its own maintenance minus capital expenditures, along with paying all taxes and utilities, and insurances, at no expense to the municipality. Lastly, it is important to reflect back at taxes and the increases, no longer in the neighbourhood of inflation or the revered 3% or less to match workers hoped for wage increases. It seems like the past council enjoyed the luxury of incurring consultation fees as an easy tradeoff without discussing how any of the decisions made would prove to enhance economic value or maintain the municipality that we choose to call home. If this is acceptable, then a yes is in order for the councillors new or to be re-elected. If this is less than acceptable, then a no is to be considered. Bill Clubb
I would hope they would take into consideration the amount of people who use this park and currently support our "downtown".
This is just like the $15,000 that was spent for a study on the Secord monument. This council was elected to make decisions, not keep paying outsiders to tell them what to do, so they can hide behind them when things backfire. I would like to know from all the people who are running, who would bring forth or support a motion to commission a new Secord monument and put it back in its rightful place, which is why I couldn’t see myself voting for any of the incumbents except Mr. Stewart.
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