Saugeen Shores Council accepted a Master Plan for North Shore Park, one that would see significant tree restoration and the railroad removed.
Prepared by Landscape Planning Ltd, the plan contains two phases, with the first phase of upgrades including the relocation of the parking lot entrance, reforestation planting, playground relocation and more.
Phase 1 has already been approved for a $1.1 million budget, through the town's Business Plan.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau said there's no money set aside for Phase 2 though.
"We have the money for Phase 1 in a 10-year-budget, and we don't have money for Phase 2 in that budget. So as things stand today, Phase 2 has to be 10-15 years out unless some major change happens."
Councillor Bud Halpin suggested moving one Phase 2 operation for North Shore Park forward.
"I think we need to take up those old train tracks," he said. "To me to leave those tracks in for five or 10 years and talk about taking them out, I mean, that can't be that big an expense and it's going to make a huge difference. So I think it's really important that we remove those train tracks in this phase, not in five or 10 years.
The tracks haven't been used in years and a private proposal to revive the North Shore Railroad was not well-received the public.
The Town's CAO said there was space in the budget to make sure the tracks are removed as part of Phase 1.
Council also accepted Master Plans for Jubilee and Helliwell Parks with $1.4 million set aside for their initial phases.
Learn more about the plans here.
