Sharman Park must be the smallest park in Saugeen Shores. According to one of our old neighbours, it was donated to the town many years ago by the ancestors of his since-deceased in-laws. Their original house is still standing on the opposite side of Saugeen Street, the park may have been part of their original lot.
Up until last year, there was an old wooden stairway, which provided access down to the river bank, where there is today’s Yacht club vessels. This stairway appeared to have been constructed using limbs from nearby trees and eventually it became unsafe to use. With some prompting to the town, the town decided to replace the original stairway.
In the Fall of 2022, the town installed the foundations shown in the photographs, taken yesterday Monday, July 17th. With my background, I know that foundations are designed and usually installed during the fabrication of the new structure. Not having seen the new structure yet, but going by the foundations it will be a huge improvement to the original design.
In the past month, another neighbour and myself contacted the Town re the status of the project. I made four phone calls, using the telephone numbers shown on the town website and each time I left a voice mail message. These calls were made either to the applicable staff manager or to a senior member of council. I have never received a reply or acknowledgment from either of the individuals.
Last week, while walking our dog, there were some town, hourly-paid employees cleaning up the beach in preparation for this weekend’s, Marine Heritage Festival. I asked one of the workers if he was aware of the status of the new stairway. He said that he was the wrong guy to to talk to, although he had seen the new fabrication in the town yard, and he provided to me the name of the person to call. Been there done that.
I am sure that many residents of Southampton are unaware of this stairway but tourists and nearby locals use it. It provides a pedestrian access to and from the river dockside that continues to the nearby abandoned Captain Spence Trail. In a couple of months, it will be one year since the on-site activities started. For a small project like this, I find that ridiculous and should be unacceptable to the powers in charge.
