The opening of new docks at the base of Bayfield St. is the first step on the road to re-opening Barrie's revamped waterfront.
The upgraded transient boat slips were ready just in time for the Barrie Boat Show that started Friday and runs all weekend.
"What a way to come out of the gate for our new transient marina. That's awesome," said Mayor Jeff Lehman, standing amidst the new slips on a blue sky and sunny Friday morning
Lehman was at the new dock for the official opening of the boat show which coincided with the dock completion.
There's more to come at the waterfront, he said, and sooner than later.
"The goal is by four, five weeks from now we've got everything open basically to the Tiffin Boat Launch area. And that's the whole new waterfront."
The new docks cost around $800,000 which was cash from the marina operations reserve fund that council set aside for the project.
The Mayor says the old dock was in such bad condition it was dangerous.
Now it's not only better, it's bigger.
The slips have a power supply and fresh water for boats and the size of the transient marina has almost doubled with an additional 20 or 30 more slips.
Each dock floats on a pipe shaped metal frame that actually floats up and is strong enough to stay on top of ice in the winter. So when the ice forms the dock actually hinges at the base, and rises up on top of the ice.
The dock will serve as a gateway to downtown.
"The reason we spent the money. The reason we wanted to do this was not just to fix a crumbling dock, which had to be done. It was to attract tourism to downtown. People will be able to come in on their boats. They'll go to the restaurants. They'll shop in the shops downtown. It's all about a stronger downtown and a better waterfront," said Lehman.
Pieces of Centennial Park and the beach are also opening up along with the playground.
The boardwalk is open but not entirely completed with benches and garbage bins yet to be installed.
"The big thing to get done in Centennial is all the sod. The parking lots are pretty much done Then they're putting the grass down next week. They need two to three weeks for the sod to set. They can't have people walking on it," said Lehman.
"Hopefully if all goes well mid-July all of that starts to open."
The Mayor has heard complaints about all the construction at the waterfront and he wants to assure residents it will be worth it and just couldn't be done without disruptions.
Crews are working very hard to complete the massive transformation.
"It's a little bit of a race. We want to have it open for as much of the summer as we can," he said
"It feels really good to be opening stuff up. Finally after so many years."
