MARATHON — Turns out makeovers aren't just for people - they're for beaches too.
The town of Marathon is celebrating the grand opening of the newly re-designed Pebble Beach with a ceremony involving members of council, Mayor Rick Dumas, and representatives from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation.
Mayor Dumas said, despite delays and some work still left to complete, he’s happy to see the improvements that have been made.
“Pebble Beach has always been a real little gem for our community . . . weather was on our side this year but we didn’t get most of it done until the spring. Here we are opening up today for the public.
“There’s been a couple of delays with supply stuff and the work that was involved but it feels really good to say specifically to residents of the community that the beach is open and you can come back again and have access. There were some critical messages sent to council about how we were delaying it but we weren’t delaying it – it was a supply chain issue and we’re still coming out of COVID,” Dumas said.
He added that Pebble Beach has been open for public access about the span of a week already and he’s heard and seen how pleased residents are with the changes made.
According to Dumas, most of the improvements to Pebble Beach were made to increase accessibility – which includes paving the parking lot, building a boardwalk, and stairs down to the waterfront – and encourage residents to take advantage of the scenic spot.
Even still, he noted that not everyone is onboard with these changes.
“There’s always some people that are critical of change but change is good – and nature is wonderful. Now we’ve got a more aesthetically-pleasing facility for not just residents alike but visitors as well. Some have criticized the fact we paved the parking lot but that just makes it much more accessible for a lot of people.
"Once the season starts again for travelling public and tourism, they’ll see what a change we’ve made. It’s a great asset to the community,” he said.
For now, the last improvement to be made is the addition of birch log bumpers to demarcate spots in the parking lot.
Dumas said he and council are in the process of submitting applications to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and Fednor for additional funding to continue pursuing their original vision for Pebble Beach, which included a new playground and the installation of a 10 or 12-site campground before funding constraints waylaid their plans.
When asked about his favourite aspect of the new Pebble Beach, Dumas couldn’t pick just one element.
“I like the whole layout and the rustic look – it still looks like it’s part of nature, it doesn’t look out of place. Just to be able to sit and enjoy, get a proper view of the lake . . . it’s all good for me. I’m always an individual who’s embracing change and I encourage all the residents in our community to come on out and enjoy because this is a beautiful spot,” he said.
