Destination Wasaga Beach master plan unveiled

The vision focuses on the beachfront, downtown, transportation, attractions and visitor experiences.

How to transform one of Ontario’s most vibrant and globally recognized four-season recreation centres is now on the books.

The Town of Wasaga Beach unveiled its Destination Wasaga Master Plan today.

“This plan belongs to the people who helped create it. It builds on everything our residents and generations of Ontarians have loved about Wasaga Beach and sets a bold course for what comes next—more jobs, more investment, more opportunity and a destination we will be proud to leave to future generations,” said Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith.

The Master Plan offers a long-term vision for Wasaga Beach’s beachfront, downtown, public spaces, transportation connections, attractions and visitor experiences.

“Our government is investing nearly $38 million in the Destination Wasaga Master Plan to position this iconic community as a world-class, year-round destination that attracts tourists, supports local businesses and drives Ontario’s tourism economy for generations to come,” said Scott Clark, spokesperson for the ministry of tourism, culture and gaming.

Destination Wasaga states:

• The beach will always remain public, with public access protected for residents and visitors.
• Wasaga Beach will remain a community first, guided by the principle that a place where people love to live is a place people will want to visit.
• Environmental stewardship and meaningful Indigenous engagement will help shape refinement and implementation, protecting the beach, dunes, shoreline, sensitive habitat and natural systems while creating opportunities for Indigenous knowledge, history, culture and perspectives to inform individual projects.
• Tourism growth will be carefully managed, focusing first on longer stays, year-round visits and greater economic value from the visitors Wasaga Beach already welcomes.
• Implementation will be phased and accountable, with individual projects subject to all relevant planning, environmental, regulatory, and financial approval processes.

Among the concepts in the Master Plan are a new Dardanella site that would restore one of Wasaga Beach’s most important historic tourism and cultural landmarks as a modern, year-round performance venue.

Additionally, and an iconic pedestrian bridge across the Nottawasaga River that could connect the world’s longest freshwater beach from end to end for the first time.

“Great communities do not stand still—they make deliberate choices about the future they want to build,” said Smith.

“Destination Wasaga is our community’s bold vision, and with the continued support and partnership of the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada and our other partners, we are ready to turn that vision into reality,” Smith said.

Quick Facts

• Wasaga Beach is home to the world’s longest freshwater beach and one of Ontario’s most recognized tourism destinations, welcoming more than two million visitors annually.
• The Master Plan is the result of one of the most extensive public engagement exercises in the town’s history. More than 16,000 residents, visitors, students, businesses, community organizations and stakeholders participated through public meetings, online surveys, comment boards, workshops, focus groups and webinars.
• The Master Plan proposes approximately 4.5 kilometres of new boardwalk and 3.2 kms of new bike paths, while enhancing 250 hectares of new and existing waterfront parkland.
• In May 2025, the Province of Ontario committed to $38 million to build Destination Wasaga, including $11 million to rebuild Beach Drive and $25 million to revitalize Nancy Island Historic Site.