Calls to prioritize Sandpoint Beach safety after latest drowning

A teenager has drowned at Sandpoint Beach, leading to calls for the beach to close. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell has more.

A Windsor city councillor said it’s time to fast-track plans to relocate Sandpoint Beach following another tragic drowning this past weekend.

Ward 7 councillor Angelo Marignani said the latest incident reinforces the need to act quickly on long-discussed plans to move the beach farther east — away from a dangerous drop-off and strong current near the mouth of the Detroit River.

“It’s a tragedy, first and foremost,” said Marignani.

“We need to prioritize this for safety and safety alone. It’s not like it’s going to go away. And if we sit and do nothing, I don’t want to think about Victoria Day 2026.”

He said he’ll be pushing for action at the next city council meeting.

“What I will be doing in this upcoming council meeting is giving direction to administration to fast track that financing in that budget line, to have it done sooner than later,” he said.

The city unveiled a master plan in early 2022 to transform the beach area — including moving the designated swimming zone roughly 200 metres east, adding a splash pad, new playground, and beach amenities. But so far, only $1.5 million of the estimated $15 million cost has been allocated.

Marignani said the project needs to be broken into phases to speed up the relocation.

“We don’t have to put all the amenities in immediately. What we could do is the initial switch,” he said.

“That whole Sandpoint Beach is actually three different parts. There’s Sandpoint, Ganatchio Park, and Stop 26 Park. So, Sandpoint Beach gets closed off — it’s in the danger zone. Ganatchio Park now becomes Sandpoint Beach or Stop 26 now becomes the beach area.”

He said the geography of the current beach makes it uniquely hazardous.

“The channel from that area, from that point, is over 500 metres — close to a kilometre, almost at the very end. Whereas on the western side, it’s less than five metres. So that in itself will remove that area of concern.”

Mayor Drew Dilkens echoed the need for renewed discussions on the future of the beach.

“Despite all of our best efforts, to see that this happens again — it’s just so sad and so disheartening and the question is, ‘what can we do?’” Dilkens said Tuesday morning on AM800’s The Mike and Meg Show.

The city made several safety improvements last year following another drowning, including doubling the height of the fence and adding signage with graphic warnings against swimming.

“If you’ve been to Sandpoint Beach after what happened last year, we doubled the height of the fence, we made it 70 metres longer, we put up lots of signs with pictures on it saying no swimming,” said Dilkens.

Still, the area remains popular, despite the risks.

“I don’t use it, and I don’t know a lot of people who do, but every time I drive by there, it’s busy,” said Dilkens.

“So, there are a lot of people who enjoy that facility, and the question is, how can we keep it available and keep it as safe as possible.”

Marignani said community input is welcome.

“If any residents are out there and they have, ‘you should be doing this’, please contact me and I will put that as part of my presentation,” he said.

“Most of the information that I do receive comes from our residents, and I’m here to voice their concern and their opinions.”

He also called for physical changes to deter swimming at the western end of the beach.

“That section of beach needs to be like all our other waterfront parks, with the same break wall, with the same fencing. And that will deter. That will stop people from just casually going in,” said Marignani.

“We have kids. We were kids. Kids will be kids. And we have to make it safe for everyone.”

Dilkens said it’s time for council to seriously discuss next steps.

“It’s a conversation worth having,” he said.

“Because if the signs and the eight-foot fence and the normal things aren’t enough to stop people from undertaking this kind of risky behaviour, what can we do — or what should we do?”

- With files from AM800 News & Rob Hindi