September 13, 2026
162
Kincardine council has agreed to hire a landscape architect to come up with a conceptual design for the lands currently used by the Bluewater Trailer Park, located on Saugeen Street, between Lambton and Durham Streets, in the Town of Kincardine.
At the meeting Wednesday night (Sept. 9), council decided to separate the original motion, relating to the trailer park lands, into two motions.
The first was approved quickly, directing staff to make the legal opinion and associated documentation available to the public through the municipality's website and social media channels.
The second was to direct staff to include the retention of a landscape architect, at an estimated cost of $35,000, to prepare a design plan for the trailer park lands, for consideration in the mayor's 2027 budget.
In his report to council, chief administrative officer (CAO) Alan Smith explained that back in September, 2024, council approved a three-year agreement with Lisa Stacey to manage the Bluewater Trailer Park until Oct. 31, 2027, when it would cease to be a trailer park. This decision stemmed from the legal and consultant's opinion, regarding the permitted use of land currently associated with the trailer park and Macpherson Park, and the report on the trailer park provided in the Waterfront master Plan.
The legal opinion assessed whether continued trailer park use is consistent with the purposes for which the lands were originally dedicated. The lands were identified as likely having been dedicated to the municipality for public purposes, specifically for use as a public park, garden, or walkway. The legal opinion concludes that trailer park use does not appear to be consistent with those original purposes.
Macpherson Park was identified as being subject to a clear requirement that the land continue to be used for public park purposes. The legal opinion notes that if those lands stop being used as a public park, there is a risk of the lands reverting back to the donor or the donor’s successors or assigns. Consequently, council directed that all tenants of the Bluewater Trailer Park vacate the site by Oct. 31, 2027.
To promote transparency, council is releasing the following information that was provided to members in closed session: Summary – Legal Opinion (July 21, 2026), Legal Opinion – Bluewater Trailer Park/Macpherson Park (Feb. 4, 2024), and Bluewater Trailer Park – Confidential Property Matter (McQueen Galloway Associates). The release of this documentation is intended to support transparency by providing residents, tenants, and interested parties with information about the legal rationale that informed council’s decision. For more details, visit www.kincardine.ca/Trailer-Park.
As to the future of these lands, the CAO's report recommends retaining the services of a landscape architect who has experience in park design and public consultation. The consultant would work with the community on developing a plan for the property around the intended purposes for which the lands were originally dedicated - public park, garden or walkway.
The process could include:
Working with staff to develop three concepts for a passive park that suits the environment while complementing the other amenities already available nearby. This would include an assessment of the current state of the park. It is anticipated there would be work required to return the land to a passive park environment, such as removal of trailer servicing.
Hosting one to two public engagement sessions to solicit public feedback on the concepts (on-line options for feedback would be made available as well over a defined period).
Working with staff to develop a “what we heard” report for the public and generate a final concept design for presentation to council.
Presenting the final concept for council approval with an estimated budget for construction.
Preparing construction drawings and tender package for construction (if approved). Construction would likely occur as part of the 2028 budget.
Smith emphasized that the first priority is to gather public input. Once that is completed, council could then determine the direction of the three conceptual design plans. "Public consultation will be the foundation of the plan/design that council will undertake," he said.
"The public needs a say in this, and needs to get involved with this," said councillor Bill Stewart. "We've seen a lot of anger about this on our website and social media."
"It's important to get a plan from the people before any designs are drawn up," agreed councillor Jennifer Prenger.
"That is the intent," said mayor Kenneth Craig. "It could be two different people - a consultant and a designer - or it could be one company. We hear from the public and then send that to a professional team."
Stewart noted that two parcels of the trailer park lands belong to the municipality, while the other two are held in trust. "It's a difficult situation but I'm interested in getting the public consultation first."
Craig said that the legal opinion is correct. "We're not wandering down that again."
"As I said, it's a difficult situation," replied Stewart. "The legal opinion is for Lots 5 and 6, but Lots 7 and 8 belong to us so we have more flexibility with them."
In the final vote, council agreed to include the retention of a landscape architect, at an estimated cost of $35,000, to prepare a design plan for the trailer park lands, for consideration in the mayor's 2027 budget. Stewart was the only voice against.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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