Westboro Beach reopens after multi-million dollar redevelopment

The National Capital Commission has reopened Westboro Beach as part of a multi-million-dollar redevelopment project.

On Sunday, the NCC officially unveiled its new year-round pavilion, restaurant and café.

The new Westboro Beach area also features a scenic lookout of the Ottawa River, picnic and volleyball spaces, accessible washrooms/change rooms and outdoor showers.

The pavilion and café are now open to the public but certain amenities, including the restaurant, remain closed.

Ottawa pizzeria The Grand with a location in the ByWard Market is slated to open once final construction work finishes this fall.

“The NCC’s design excellence and innovation are on full display at Westboro Beach, where nature, community and history come together,” said NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum in a news release.

“With the community’s engagement and support, we were able to deliver a project that enhances the shoreline in the west end, and is emblematic of our commitment to creating sustainable, accessible and vibrant public spaces in the National Capital Region.”

$21 million project

The beach closed to the public in 2022 but was open to unsupervised swimming as construction took place.

The City of Ottawa will offer supervised swimming at the beach from June 21 to Aug. 24 from noon to 7 p.m.

The project is projected to cost $21 million, which includes a $13 million contribution from the City of Ottawa, the NCC says.

The redevelopment was part of a 2015 agreement between the NCC and the city for the western extension of the LRT Confederation Line and the creation of a new waterfront park.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Josh Marano

Where is Westboro beach?