Erieau Public Beach and Laverne Kelly Memorial Park Site Plan

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent invites residents to provide comment on the conceptual site plan for Erieau Public Beach & Laverne Kelly Memorial Park.

Location

Erieau Public Beach and Laverne Kelly Memorial Park is an 8.7‑hectare public waterfront space located along the shore of Lake Erie on the southern edge of Chatham‑Kent. The site is a popular seasonal destination for water‑based recreation, family gatherings, and community events.

The area currently includes approximately 600 metres of beachfront, two seasonal washroom buildings, a pavilion, an accessible playground, on‑site parking, a basketball court, skate park, ball diamond, pickleball courts, and a walking trail surrounded by open and naturalized areas.

What is a Park Site Plan?

A Park Site Plan provides a long‑term planning framework for how a park should function and develop over time. It identifies the desired layout of amenities, infrastructure needs, recreational considerations, and how the space will serve the community, ensuring future improvements are intentional and coordinated rather than reactive.

A site plan supports infrastructure planning by guiding the location of upgrades and replacements, as well as financial planning by helping Council and local fundraising groups forecast capital costs while aligning investments with priority needs. They create a shared vision for park stakeholders, and support priority‑setting by clearly identifying projects most impactful to its users. The development of site plans for priority municipal parks was recommended in the 2025 Parks and Recreation Master Plan to help ensure consistent, transparent, and sustainable park development across Chatham-Kent.

The preliminary concept site plan will be developed into a final version which will also include cost estimates for the overall site plan, as well as individual location elements and proposed features.

Community Input and Conceptual Plan

A community workshop was held on September 30, 2025 to help develop the initial concept design. Background information and goals for the site plan project were presented, with the municipality seeking feedback from the community members to aid in the development of the site plan. The Resident Engagement Presentation boards presented at the workshop are available for reference. Some of the priorities discussed and captured in the conceptual plan include:

• Expanded parking
• Protection of natural spaces
• Upgraded basketball and expanded pickleball courts
• Shaded picnic space
• New play equipment
• Space for performances/events
• Boardwalk and improved beach accessibility

Additional considerations for the site plan included:

• Site access, visibility, and movement for various users.
• A plan for facilities renovation and/or expansion.
• Flexible redevelopment and phasing options.

What are the next steps?

Comments and feedback on the conceptual site plan will inform a final design to be brought to Municipal Council in the future for approval and long-term funding consideration.