Make Your Mark on Innisfil Beach Park

A new off-leash dog area is now open at Innisfil Beach Park (676 Innisfil Beach Road). Situated between the boat launch and Beach 2, the space offers a fenced-in environment for dog owners to let their pets run free and socialize.

Recognizing that water access is an important feature, the Town is working with the local conservation authority to permit shoreline work. Once formal approval is received, a designated water access point will be constructed within the new off-leash area so residents and dogs can more easily access Lake Simcoe.

Residents and their canine companions are invited to the official opening on Tuesday, June 10. The ribbon-cutting with Town Council will take place at 5 p.m., right before the start of Neighbourhood Nights at Innisfil Beach Park (parking lot F). While Neighbourhood Nights is weather-dependent, the ribbon cutting will proceed rain or shine.

The previous dog beach at Beach 6 has been removed due to noise impacts on nearby households. The new location at the eastern point of Innisfil Beach Park was selected to mitigate noise impacts while providing a larger off-leash dog area and closer access to parking lots within the park.

Town Council and staff appreciate residents for championing this new space and using their collective voice to share the importance of the amenity at a recent Council Meeting.

For more information about Innisfil Beach Park, visit innisfil.ca/IBP.

The Town of Innisfil is excited to announce that construction on Phase 1 of the Innisfil Beach Park improvements is scheduled to begin this week.

"After years of careful planning and valuable input from our residents, it's exciting to see the revitalization of Innisfil Beach Park take shape," says Mayor Lynn Dollin. "Construction has been scheduled to minimize disruptions to current park usage as much as possible as we work to build more recreational opportunities, better access, and beautiful natural spaces for decades to come."

Based on the Innisfil Beach Park Master Plan, the implementation plan outlines nearly 50 phased projects to improve traffic flow, enhance beach areas, and introduce new recreational amenities to activate underutilized sections of the park. The revitalization is the result of more than five years of planning, community consultation, and design with thousands of residents helping to shape the park’s future.

The park will remain open throughout construction, with temporary closure zones in place for public safety. Closure zones will be based on active construction with rolling start dates throughout the summer.

Highlights in Phase 1 include:

• New park exit and trail: A new exit road intersecting 25th Sideroad, featuring a 2-metre off-road trail for pedestrians and cyclists.
• New washroom pavilion: A modern, fully accessible washroom building plus outdoor showers.
• Turning circle: A new pick-up and drop-off zone beside the washroom pavilion for improved traffic management.
• Playground and courts: A new natural toddler playground, two volleyball courts, connecting pathways, and a shaded seating area.
• Expanded beach areas: Beach 2 will have an expanded sandy area, and Beaches 3 and 4 will be merged into a larger beach. Beaches 2-5 will also receive accessible beach paths and willow trees or dune grasses.

In addition, Phase 1 will bring other enhancements, including bike racks, new seating options, tree plantings and gardens, stormwater management improvements, and infrastructure upgrades to support future park facilities.

Council approved the Final Concept for the Innisfil Beach Park Implementation Plan in May 2023. For full details, please visit the project page at getinvolvedinnisfil.ca/ibp.

As part of the implementation of Innisfil Beach Park improvements (Phase 1), a Stage 3 Archaeological Assessment will take place in May 2024. The park will remain open to the public during the Archaeological Assessment, but residents can expect construction activity in the area.

The Town's consultant (AECOM) is scheduled to undertake the work at Innisfil Beach Park from May 7 to May 16 (weather permitting). Work includes site setup and excavating one-metre by one-metre square test units across the site to determine the dimensions of the archaeological site, evaluate its cultural heritage value or interest and, where necessary, make recommendations for Stage 4 mitigation strategies.

Locations 1 and 2 at the park's north end near Beaches 4 and 5 will be impacted as identified in the map below.

We thank representatives of Huron-Wendat Nation for being present on-site to monitor the investigation.

This work marks an exciting step in moving forward with the design and construction of park improvements. Learn more about the Innisfil Beach Park implementation plan.

Council approved the Final Concept for Innisfil Beach Park on May 24, 2023. It contains 49 projects phased over the next 20 years to enhance beach areas, ease traffic congestion, and maximize use of our largest park by adding new amenities in underutilized areas.

As part of the next steps, 3D visual landscape schematics of the park improvements are now in!

• Future Innisfil Beach Park Aerial Image
• Future Innisfil Beach Park Expanded Beach Image
• Future Innisfil Beach Park Splash Pad and Event Plaza Image
• Future Innisfil Beach Park Youth Area (asphalt pump track) Image

This project has been years in the making and we appreciate your continued engagement as we work to make Innisfil Beach Park even better. For more information, please visit the project page: Make your Mark on Innisfil Beach Park.

The Town of Innisfil is hosting a Public Open House on the Innisfil Beach Park Master Plan (IBPMP) on January 18 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall (2101 Innisfil Beach Road). Community members are invited to drop in to review alternative park concepts, ask questions, and provide comments.

“The upcoming open house gives residents another opportunity to shape the future of Innisfil Beach Park,” says Mayor Lynn Dollin. “The site concepts reflect what we’ve heard throughout this process and now we’re asking residents to select their preferred alternative. This is a great opportunity for community members to make their mark on Innisfil Beach Park!”

Immediately following the open house will be a Special Council Meeting, in which staff will present a brief overview of the project background and park concepts, results of the recent online survey, and next steps. Community members can then address Council and share their thoughts through an open forum.

All residents who completed the online survey—which was available in November 2022—or attend the open house can enter to win a $150 gift card to an Innisfil business of their choice.

Town of Innisfil Council approved the IBPMP in June 2020 to establish a long-term vision for the revitalization of Innisfil’s largest urban park. Guiding principles focus on expanding natural areas and recreational facilities within the park, maintaining access to water frontage, and improving park access and circulation for pedestrians and cyclists. The implementation plan includes environmental background studies, alternative park concepts, and the phasing of future recreational facilities.

Learn more at getinvolvedinnisfil.ca/ibp.

On June 24, 2020, Town of Innisfil Council approved the Innisfil Beach Park Vision 2020 and the associated Alcona Parking Study 2020.

Per Council deliberation on the night of June 24, 2020, Staff are prepared to make technical revisions to align elements of the Park Vision related to the Interim Control By-law lands, reflecting any decision of Council on August 12, 2020.

The approved plans have been attached:

There are new updates to the Innisfil Beach Park Master Plan!

With the help of feedback from residents, Planning Services has made final changes to the IBPMP 2020. The Plan can be viewed in its entirety via links at the bottom of this page.

The Plan now awaits consideration by Council, scheduled for the June 24, 2020 Council Meeting.

Throughout the spring of 2020, Staff have been working to finalize the Plan to ensure future capital investments are aligned with a resilient, long-term vision consistent with community aspirations.

IBPMP 2020 sets an ambitious vision for Innisfil’s premier urban park, one that will elevate the Park as a focal point for the community. It is the intention of Planning Services to foster a Park in Balance, one which preserves traditions of the past and rises to meet the needs of the future.

• Innisfil Beach Park Master Plan 2020
• Appendix A: 20-Year Project Plans
• Appendix B: Sense of Place and Commercial Area Design Guidelines

A Draft Master Plan is now complete and staff will be providing Council with a project update on February 26, 2020. Bear in mind that this draft plan is in fact a draft that still needs to be finalized. We'll be returning to Council in the spring with an additional update, but until then we are welcoming public comments on the plan below.

To watch the plan be presented to Council, subscribe to our Youtube channel.

• Read the full Draft Master Plan
• Check out the public consultation results
• See how your feedback changed the plan

Stay tuned for additional updates about projects prioritized for the short term!