BURLINGTON — The City of Burlington and Halton Region are starting work on the second phase of improvements to Spencer Smith Park.

The work is part of the Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park Master Plan — approved in 2015 — and includes Spencer Smith and Beachway parks.

Larger sections of the Spencer Smith Park promenade will be closed to accommodate the faster completion of the work, starting in the east end of the park from west of the Brant Street Pier to approximately the middle of Spencer Smith Park, past the accessible pathway.

"The promenade surface has reached the end of its lifespan and needs to be replaced," said Rob Peachey, manager of parks and open spaces.

"To maintain public safety, there will be no public access to construction areas. We are asking park users to walk around the area using grassy areas or other pathways through the park or along Lakeshore Road. The work will be done in phases to keep disruption to a minimum for our park users and for our popular annual festivals and events."

Halton Region received a Canada 150 grant to help fund the first and second phases of the park project.

Phase 1, which is scheduled to be done by this spring, includes:

•an upgraded gazebo at a new location;

•hard-surfaced walkway, pedestrian lighting and benches;

•tree and perennial planting;

•grading and drainage improvements.

Phase 2 is scheduled to be completed later this year and includes:

•asphalt resurfacing on the promenade;

•new shade structure at the cobble beach;

•concrete surfacing at the seating nodes and of the pathway at the west end;

•refurbishment of the low wall, including railings at the west end;

•bollards and benches.

The improvements to the promenade will upgrade the surface to become an accessible pathway that is smooth, durable and suitable for walking, cycling and use by mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, city staff say.

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A dashed centre line will be painted, which is the current industry standard for a multi-use path, to provide separation based on the direction of travel. It will use the same principle as driving on the road where users keep to the right and allow faster traffic to pass on the left.

Spencer Smith Park will stay open during construction with sections of the promenade closed from April to December.

The closures will happen in phases to allow annual major festivals and events, such as the Sound of Music Festival and Canada's Largest Ribfest, to use the park to host its events.