Crews hard at work on the afternoon of Thursday, May 15 prior to re-opening the First Beach section of Westwood Lake Park. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

life's a beach

Reformed Westwood Lake beach to open for long weekend

May 16, 2025 | 5:30 AM

NANAIMO — Just in time for the May long weekend, construction gates around a popular beach in Nanaimo are coming down.

Kirsty MacDonald, the City’s manager of parks operations, said the expanded and accessible First Beach area, packed with numerous new amenities, is opening soon.

“We expect that the fences will be down by Friday evening, and we hope that the public enjoys it over the weekend,” MacDonald told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Aerial view captured on April 23 of the expanded sandy beach and adjacent public gathering amenities off the end of Westwood Rd. (City of Nanaimo)

Most of the beachfront area has been closed since early September when crews began an extensive transformation project, featuring an expanded beach area to replace asphalt.

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In addition to an enlarged sandy beach, MacDonald noted First Beach now includes more seating, picnic tables, accessible decks, perching boulders, plant and shade features, as well as enhanced pedestrian and bike connections.

MacDonald said new washrooms are expected to open in July, with construction fencing incrementally to be reduced as work progresses.

“So far, the project has been proceeding really well, and we hope the public really appreciates the new and expanded accessible beach area.”

Seven new universal washrooms, including two accessible washrooms, are being added to First Beach.

The spaces are being designed to double as change room spaces for beach goers.

Rendering of washroom buildings expected to open this summer at Westwood Lake Park. (City of Nanaimo)

MacDonald stated other additions over the next few months include way-finding signage, additional seating, public art and waste baskets.

Transforming popular Westwood Lake Park began taking shape with the completion of phase one in late spring of 2023, when nearly 40 additional parking spaces in a reconfigured parking lot at First Beach opened.

Both phases combined were budgeted by the City at about $5.1 million.

Westwood Lake Park is one of Nanaimo’s most popular outdoor attractions, featuring a pair of high-use sandy beaches, a nearly six-kilometre trail circling the lake, and an off-leash dog area.

More details on the City’s investments to Westwood Lake Park can be found here.

– with files from Jordan Davidson

Alternate view of the new-look First Beach area at Westwood Lake Park. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Crews removed and are in the midst of replacing the small playground at Westwood Lake’s Second Beach, which will involve a mud kitchen, swings and sandboxes. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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