2018 Point Pelee National Park Announcement

Federal Infrastructure Investment Program
Grand total investment*:  $5.5M           

Point Pelee National Park         
Point Pelee National Park is located at the southernmost point of the Canadian mainland, spanning 15 square kilometres. Each spring, view flocks of migratory birds, joined in autumn by waves of vivid Monarch butterflies. In winter, wander snowy trails past ice-cloaked trees and in summer, bask on sandy beaches. Whether you cycle, paddle or hike Canada’s smallest but most ecologically diverse national park, you’ll be immersed in an unforgettable eco-adventure.

Federal Infrastructure Project Funding

List of projects:                 

Project name: Marsh Boardwalk and Tower Renewal
Estimated total: $4M
Project description: Point Pelee National Park is rejuvenating the Marsh Boardwalk Area to improve the experience for our visitors and address required maintenance to the marsh boardwalk and the lookout tower.

Project name: Tip Tower Project
Estimated total: $1.5M
Project description: Parks Canada is excited to offer visitors a unique view of the Southernmost Tip of Canada at Point Pelee National Park - an iconic Canadian destination. Located west of the shuttle drop-off area, a 24-metre observation tower will allow visitors to soak in a 360 degree birds-eye perspective of the beginning of mainland Canada – from Essex County to the North, across Lake Erie to Pelee Island in the south, and unforgettable sunrises and sunsets.

Previously Completed Federal Infrastructure Projects

Project name: Northwest Beach Renewal
Project description: One of the park’s signature visitor experiences has been renewed with a high-quality and enhanced beach experience to better meet visitor needs. Updates include a new all-wood natural playground, two accessible comfort stations with rinse showers and change space, and a 100-person beachfront rental pavilion with barbeque and fire pit. By reconfiguring the parking area and replacing outdated comfort stations, Point Pelee National Park has gained 8,000 m² of habitat. The new more compact parking area is now fully accessible and enables over 300 metres of active dune-forming coastline to be returned to a natural state, contributing to the recovery of our extremely rare Lake Erie Sandspit Savannah habitat.   

Project name: Break wall and Shoreline Rehabilitation
Project description:  The park’s shoreline protection infrastructure has been rehabilitated, including the break wall which has been impacted by severe weather events and winter ice, resulting in the deterioration of the shoreline and loss of protected habitat and native species. The renewed shoreline protection system will help replenish the depleted sand stock along the western shore, reduce the loss of species at risk and rare Lake Erie Sandspit Savannah, while stabilizing the trail that connects visitors to the most southern tip of mainland Canada – one of Point Pelee’s most iconic experiences.                                  

Project name: Improvements to the Visitor Centre Theatre
Project description:  This major Visitor Centre theatre renovation included a whole new interior design, the replacement of the roof, and extensive exterior landscaping. The audio-visual equipment has been upgraded, enabling Point Pelee National Park to maintain its current menu of programs while providing opportunities for new program development. A new multi-use room has been developed within the space which can be used for school programs, special events and community meetings. Two exterior ponds showcasing the park’s natural aquatic wildlife give the exterior grounds a whole new appeal. Structural work helps efficiently move rain and ground water away from the building to ensure the long-term life of the building. 

Project name: Campground Renewal
Project description: The park’s existing campground has been reinvented. The new oTENTik village features 24 four-season canvas A-frame camping structures with comfortable mattresses that sleep up to six. Each oTENTik comes complete with heat source, electricity, kitchen table and chairs, deck, barbeque and fire pit. This redevelopment will better meet the needs of current and potential visitors, increase revenue and promote visitation especially in the winter, spring and fall. 

Project name: Restoring Point Pelee National Park’s Savannah
Project description: The Lake Erie Sand Spit Savannah (LESSS) is a globally endangered ecosystem that supports 25% of the species at risk that call Point Pelee National Park home. Building on the success of the previous Action on the Ground project (2009-2014) that resulted in 13 hectares of restored savannah, the Conservation and Restoration - Restoring Lake Erie Sand Spit Savannah project (2014-2019) aims to restore an additional 24 hectares. Since 2014, 10 hectares of open savannah, 9 hectares of LESSS woodland, and 3 hectares of habitat for the endangered yellow-breasted chat have been restored. As well, in partnership with the Royal Military College of Canada, the park has been actively investigating ground-breaking DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) remediation techniques.

Project name: Species at Risk Tree Recovery Program
Project description: Parks Canada is promoting the health of the park’s species at risk trees through conservation and restoration work and public education. Since 2015, we have eliminated the invasive, exotic White Mulberry trees which threatened the remaining 18 Red Mulberry trees in the park. Using controlled pollination, we have planted 26 new Red Mulberry seedlings. We intend to plant an additional 29 seedlings in the fall of 2018 in order to reach our goal. Important genetic research to help preserve Dwarf Hackberry and Kentucky Coffee trees in the park is underway through partnerships with universities and government experts. A collaboration with the Forest Gene Conservation Association has succeeded in preserving genetic material from one of the park’s Butternut trees to ensure a future Canada-wide seed supply source for this extremely endangered tree species. We’ve conducted health assessments of the Blue Ash populations in the park to determine the risk from Emerald Ash Borer, and have collected seeds for future research and restoration programs. Great work has been done to increase public awareness about the park’s species at risk trees by increasing trail signage and installing an exhibit in the Visitor Centre about these rare and special trees. 

* Please note that the sum of individual project values may not equal the grand total indicated at the top of this document due to standard rounding errors.     

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