MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release

DATE:  Monday July 21, 2003

Pickering's Great Lakes Nautical Village

The City of Pickering recently hosted a groundbreaking and showcasing of private-sector development sites that, together with recent and future City initiatives, establishes Pickering's Great Lakes Nautical Village on the north shore of Lake Ontario as a premier destination in the Greater Toronto Area. The celebration was held Thursday, July 3, 2003 at the bottom of Liverpool Road.

"The Great Lakes Nautical Village is the result of a careful and inclusive planning process, highlighted by ongoing collaboration with a variety of community stakeholders and a strong commitment from both the private and public sector," said Mayor Wayne Arthurs.

Several City waterfront initiatives and amenities have already been completed in the area, including Millennium Square (a popular, centrally-located public gathering space), the erection of the Millennium Mast sculpture, a boardwalk extending the Waterfront Trail along our beachfront from Millennium Square to the Ontario Power Generation Wind Turbine, and a children's splash park and playground. Additional planned City initiatives include the construction of the Progress Frenchman's Bay East Park and boulevard and streetscape improvements along Liverpool Road south of Wharf Street.

Significant private sector initiatives highlighted at the July 3rd groundbreaking and celebration event form the heart of the Village through distinctive features including marine-style residential townhouses (some fronting Liverpool Road with convertible ground floors for commercial/retail and live-work opportunities) and a complete redevelopment of the former East Shore Marina. Commercial opportunities, boat storage and public waterfront access and views are additional highlighted features of these projects.

The City also continues to plan and implement, in collaboration with several community stakeholders and partners, additional projects, improvements and public art to enhance the entire Lake Ontario Waterfront and Waterfront Trail in Pickering.

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