The Ocean View - Vision to Action

 

Some moments stick with you, completely reshaping how you view your home. Years ago, during a lunch break in the staff room at the College, a coworker from Random Island said something that sparked a total epiphany for me: "I could never live somewhere where I could not see the ocean."

Having grown up in inland Buchans, I had never found the ocean central to my sense of place. But the sheer passion in her voice woke me up to what is right in front of us in Clarenville—something that I, and apparently too many of us, take for granted.

The universe decided to drive that lesson home a few years later. In 2012, I was touring a TSN scouting crew to find the perfect location for a live broadcast from Clarenville. Naturally, I took them to the Clarenville Events Centre parking lot—practical, spacious, and logical.

The producers didn't hesitate with their rejection: "No. We must be on the coastline."

We have about 8 kilometres of some of the best, most sheltered coastline in the province right here in Clarenville. Our forefathers used every bit of it as they settled between the upper and lower Shoal Harbour River estuaries. Along that coast, we have several noteworthy beaches, including Stanley’s Beach, Shoal Harbour Beach, and Red Beach. Yet, why is it we rarely see people on them? We also have Lower Shoal Harbour, the Clarenville Marina in Dark Hole, and the Shoreline Park near the Shipyard.

The Shoreline Park project, which we planned during my term on Council, is a small but tangible initiative to recover the value of our waterfront. Looking at it from above, you see a beautifully manicured green space, carved out right against the rocky shoreline, complete with picnic tables, benches, historical display panels (https://www.paultilley.ca/our.../waterfront-history-panel), a replica dory, and a soon-to-be-built gazebo. It’s a space designed for pause.

I notice that visitors are down there daily. In fact, just this morning, I watched a lady doing yoga on the newly installed concrete pathway, finding her footing right at the water's edge.

We live next to a beautiful piece of oceanfront. If we all could experience the epiphany I was shown years ago, we would work together to ensure this entire area gets the dignity, development, and appreciation it truly deserves.

Proposed Next Steps

I consider the work done on our town's waterfront a good start, but it's just the beginning.   Like in other communities, the shoreline can be made more functional and more walkable by contouring the shoreline, as I have illustrated: 

Key Features of the Expanded Footprint

1. Shoreline Infill & Terraced Bulkhead (Squaring Off the Frontage)

Armour Stone Retaining Wall: Construct a stepped, engineered armour stone retaining wall parallel to Marine Drive to push the shoreline outward and eliminate the current jagged, irregular natural curve.

Expanded Footprint: Infill behind the new retaining wall with clean, compacted fill to create a wider, uniform rectangular pad between Marine Drive and the water. This will also include a space for future development on Town-owned property on the shipyard side of the park.

2. Enhanced Park Features & Amenities

Extended Boardwalk / Promenade: Build a wide, accessible timber or concrete boardwalk along the straightened waterfront edge for walking and viewing.

Expanded Green Space: Lay down high-grade sod behind the boardwalk to significantly increase the grassy recreational footprint for community events, picnics, and relaxation.

Improved Landscaping: Plant native coastal shrubs and wind-resistant trees along the perimeter to buffer against coastal weather while maintaining clear sightlines to the water.

Small boat dock: The dock extends perpendicularly eastward from the southern section of the boardwalk into the sheltered waters, providing direct water access away from the main armour stone retaining wall. It features a T-shaped or finger-pier configuration designed to accommodate multiple watercraft securely. The layout provides convenient side-tie berths and slip space sized for kayaks, canoes, Zodiacs, and small motorized recreational boats, as shown by the docked vessels.

Accessibility: It connects seamlessly to the continuous wooden boardwalk and paved promenade, allowing visitors to easily transition from the park grounds and vehicle parking area down to the beach at the water's edge.

Electricity and Water - Hookup Potential: Incorporating water and electrical hookups (and potentially sewer) transforms a standard day-use park into a more versatile destination. Providing these amenities allows Clarenville to offer tourists both short-term convenience and longer-stay options, which could significantly enhance visitor experience.

Formalized Parking Area: Grade and pave the open gravel space along the west side of Marine Drive to provide marked parking stalls, including accessible spaces and a designated turnaround zone.

Safe Pedestrian Crossings: Install raised crosswalks and clear signage connecting the parking area across Marine Drive directly to the newly expanded park grounds.

Appropriate Signage:  

WELCOME TO CLARENVILLE’S SHORELINE PARK

Enjoy Your Stay By the Water! We love sharing our beautiful coastline with visitors and travellers. Please help us keep this area clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone.

Self-Contained Overnight Stays: Overnight stays are welcome in self-contained RVs and motor homes.

Tenting & Camping: Tenting is welcome when portable washroom facilities are provided for your stay.

Support Local: Discover delicious treats from our approved mobile vendors during your visit!

Leave No Trace: Please pack out all your trash, respect our natural environment, and keep our shores pristine.

Thank you for helping us protect and enjoy Shoreline Park together!