Lake Wilcox Park boardwalk in Richmond Hill opens after 6-month delay

$2.3-million project one of the final features of city’s Lake Wilcox Park Master Plan

Yorkregion.com
July 10, 2020
Sheila Wang

Richmond Hill adds a new feature to its popular waterfront park just in time for Stage 2 of reopening.

A 130-metre-long, and three-metre-wide pedestrian walkway in Lake Wilcox Park is ready to meet the public and bring people much closer to the water.

The city announced the opening of the crescent shaped boardwalk on July 6, after six months of delay.

The wood and steel suspended boardwalk projects out into the largest kettle lake on the Oak Ridges Moraine and connects to the existing promenade.

Richmond Hill to charge non-residents for parking at Lake Wilcox Park starting July
The $2.3-million project is one of the final and preeminent features of the city’s Lake Wilcox Park Master Plan.

Construction started in June 2019 and was initially expected to complete at the end of last year.

It was a complex project with strict environmental regulatory restrictions, which required drilling 20 steel piles into the lake bed to support the boardwalk and underwater welding with specialized scuba divers, according to the city’s website.

Along with the boardwalk, residents can now also enjoy the promenade, splash pad, the youth area including the skate park, beach volleyball courts, basketball courts, as well as washrooms and parking lots that were previously closed due to COVID-19.

The playground and outdoor exercise equipment remain closed.

Starting mid-July, the city will be implementing pay parking at the park and Richmond Hill resident will be able to obtain a free permit to park.

To be notified when residents can obtain a free permit online, please go to RichmondHill.ca/Parking and subscribe to the webpage -- click "Receive Email Updates" at the bottom of the page.

Visitors are asked to practice physical distancing and not congregate in groups of more than 10 unless you live together.

Groups of more than 25 people are not permitted at Lake Wilcox Park.

If your group is larger than 25 guests, you must submit an outdoor event, wedding or picnic permit application. Recreation staff will then work with you to find an appropriate location for your event.