Westwood Lakes First Beach will be vastly expanded in the coming months. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

significant project

Crews start ambitious off-season Westwood Lake Park overhaul

Sep 12, 2024 | 7:32 AM

NANAIMO — Westwood Lake Park typically calms down this time of year, however noise from construction equipment will be ever-present for the next several months.

Phase two enhancements at one of Nanaimo’s crown jewels began on Tuesday, Sept. 3, starting the process of roughly doubling the size of the sandy portion of First Beach, as well as constructing new washrooms.

Public disruptions will include certain areas blocked off, including an existing portion of the new parking area at First Beach which is fenced off to store construction equipment, noted the city’s capital projects manager Michael Lonsdale.

“We didn’t want them to be out working in recreation areas like the beaches, so that area is still available for folks. There’s still a ton of parking over by Second Beach,” Lonsdale told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Sections of Westwood lake’s new parking lot are closed to the public. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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First Beach, located off the end of Westwood Rd., will be enhanced to create a more spacious, comfortable and inclusive area, which was crafted through a public consultation process, Lonsdale said.

Several new shade trees will be planted beyond First Beach, while seating features will be placed on the upper portion of the beach, including an elevated wooden deck for lounging.

Lonsdale said the deck feature will have an accessible ramp.

“We’ve got that area there where people will be able to sit, look out at the lake, look out at the beach, relax up on some wooden decking.”

illustration of pending enhancements to Westwood Lake Park. The dotted blue line indicates the expanded section of First Beach. (City of Nanaimo)

A pair of shade sails will also complement the space.

Seven new universal washrooms will be built adjacent to the new parking lot, which includes an extra washroom recently approved by City Council to meet anticipated future demand.

“All of the facilities will double as change rooms as well,” Lonsdale said, noting outside rinsing showers will be installed.

Seven new universal washrooms with accompanied change rooms are coming to Westwood Lake. Phase one and two enhancements at the park are combined budgeted at $5.1 million (City of Nanaimo)

A large canopy feature will extend from one of the washroom buildings facing the lake, which Lonsdale said will come in handy during the rainy season.

The existing aging washroom building will undergo modest renovations and be used by lifeguards and for storage, Lonsdale said.

Other enhancements include the creation of a pathway to create a true circular route around Westwood Lake.

While it’s too soon to nail down when construction will be completed, Lonsdale hopes it will be business as usual at Westwood Lake by next April.

“We want to be out there before that high season use returns and the weather starts coming back to us and we want to have this open and ready for the community as that demand grows.”

In 2023 phase one upgrades at Westwood Lake Park saw expanded and a reconfigured parking lot near First Beach built.

An earlier discussed third-phase upgrade at Westwood Lake Park is not budgeted at this time, which Lonsdale said includes an elevated deck between the park’s two sandy beaches.

More details from the City of Nanaimo on its Westwood Lake Park enhancement efforts can be found here.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes