Planned walkway would provide respite in downtown Burlington
Published May 13, 2024 at 1:56 pm
A public walkway and greenspace that would connect the lakefront to one of Burlington’s most historic properties has taken a step closer to becoming a reality.
Referred to as “a window to the lake” the proposal from St. Luke’s Anglican Church would see the strip of land that exists between Elgin Street and Lakeshore Road and Spencer Smith Park converted into a user-friendly pathway that the congregation envisions as a legacy project to make the parcel of land more user-friendly.
The uninterrupted connection between the 190-year-old church and the lake already exists but plans call for a public walking path, benches and art installations to make the greenspace more accommodating to those looking for a place of respite from the hustle and bustle of downtown.
St. Luke’s owns the property along with the City of Burlington, the latter of which controls the driveway that cuts across the space and is used to access a parking lot.
“In a time of growing densification in the downtown area this property provides much-needed greenspace that if developed carefully and thoughtfully will support the mental health and well-being of our community and contribute to the allure of visitors,” said Rick Reycraft who presented the concept to city councillors referring to the space as “Church Avenue.”
Reycraft also talked about the historical significance of the church and the greenspace. He said the land was donated to the congregation for the use of St. Luke’s in 1833 by Elizabeth Kerr, daughter of Joseph Brant the original land owner.
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For its part, the city believes it can relocate the driveway which would allow the planned walkway to continue without interruption.
Both the church and the city plan to continue discussions on the project in the expectation of making it work.
The greenspace, referred to here as Church Avenue, would become a public space.