Beach stairs replacements underway in Nanaimo

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Aftermath of a destructive Nov. 19, 2024, windstorm that ravaged multiple parks, including the stairs at Seabold Rotary Park. (Image Credit: City of Nanaimo)

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She said the geotechnical assessment expected shortly will outline how contractor crews can safely access and fix the impacted area, situated on a steep slope.

While money is available in this year’s budget to fix the stairs, MacDonald said the full scope of the costs is unknown, noting City Council may be asked to sign off on the project.

MacDonald said the City has received many inquiries from people wondering about the status of the Seabold Rd. beach access.

“Seabold’s been closed about around a year and a half now, and we want the public to know that it hasn’t been forgotten; we’re actively trying to reopen it again.”

Tree root rot and bank instability are challenges for the site, MacDonald noted.

While a trend of increasingly powerful windstorms poses a threat to Nanaimo’s parks and trails system, MacDonald said maintaining access via high bank stairs is important.

She pointed to a 2020 survey as part of the City Plan/Official Community Plan process, placing public access to lake and ocean fronts as top priorities for the future of parks.

“It’s definitely a reason that many people move to Nanaimo is to access waterfronts,” MacDonald said. “As a community, we know that’s a strong re-occurring ‘why did you choose to live here?’ because of easy access to waterfront.”

There’s clarity on other pending beach access staircase projects.

With repairs to Beach Estates Park off Departure Bay Rd. concluding following recent vandalism, MacDonald said those crews will then replace the staircase at Sealand Park, off the end of Waldbank Rd.

The high bank staircase leading to a gully trail is expected to take place during the month of May, MacDonald said.

The Sealand Park beach access stairs have seen better days. The set is scheduled to be replaced shortly. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW.)

Crews will also replace a section of aging stairs at popular Blueback Beach. MacDonald said a date hasn’t been established for the partial replacement project at the access point off the end of Blueback Rd.

She noted trail counter data showed between 250 and 900 people use the stairs at Blueback Beach daily, depending on the day and season.

A minor enhancement project accessed via Bayshore Dr. and Fillinger Cres. involves concrete stairs and railing improvements to be completed this summer, MacDonald confirmed.

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