Providing eco-sensitive concept designs for improving visitor facilities and access

Point Pelee National Park – Marsh Area Renewal

Located in Ontario on Canada’s most southern point, beautiful Point Pelee National Park is a peninsula that extends into Lake Eerie. Its marsh habitat is a haven for migratory birds, Monarch butterflies, turtles, and other native wildlife. This ecologically diverse park also hosts two-legged visitors who come year-round for birding, hiking, cycling, and watersports.

When the park’s amenities needed updating, Parks Canada turned to us to improve on-site facilities and accessibility for the marsh boardwalk, picnic areas, comfort stations, viewing platforms, and boat launches with eco-sensitivities in mind. In consultation with the client, our team created three concept designs for the park improvements. As part of these designs, we incorporated visitors’ current and future needs, archaeological sensitives, and respect for the park’s flora and fauna—the marsh is home to endangered species, including six different species of turtles, so our team provided solutions to protect the nesting turtle populations.

Now, the newly updated National Park is more accessible and provides visitors with the welcoming amenities they need to enjoy nature, including a half-kilometre elevated marsh boardwalk, new trails, canoe and kayak launches, and nature-viewing platforms.