Grand Bay West Trail Renewal Plan

Client

Town of Channel-Port aux Basques

Location

Channel-Port aux Basques, NL

Date Completed

September 2023

Recognition

2023 Award of Excellence, Atlantic Provinces Association of Landscape Architects

Project Summary

When Hurricane Fiona landed in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2022, it brought unprecedented winds and storm surges that rocked the rural seaside community of Channel - Port aux Basques.

It was heartbreaking to hear the stories from the community after the storm. Entire homes were destroyed, a life lost, and the community changed forever. One area in particular, Grand Bay West, was completely changed. Sand dunes were leveled, ponds were filled in with sand, and boulders were dropped inland. The Grand Bay West Trail, the community’s only walking trail, was almost completely washed away and damaged beyond repair.

Prior to the storm, the Trail meandered through picturesque wetlands and beaches and served as a major attraction for both visitors and residents. The Town understood the Trail’s significance, and quickly prioritized its renewal as part of the community’s rebuilding efforts. Our team was hired to lead a Renewal Plan, and after seeing the damage, we knew that this would be no small task. This would not merely be a trail re-building exercise; it needed to be viewed through the lens of long-term sustainability and climate change resilience.

After much research on climate change adaptation, it was decided that the trail could not be rebuilt in its previous location as it would be left too vulnerable to future storm damage. We studied the site and proposed a new route that avoided sensitive and vulnerable landscapes while still providing access to beaches and other destinations. Public feedback also informed our decisions, and with overwhelming engagement activity from a community of only 4,000 people, it was evident that residents were excited about the project and passionate about the future of the trail.

At the end of the project, we proposed a new trail route that would be less susceptible to climate change, improved accessibility, told the story of Fiona in a thoughtful way, and created a new community amenity that would once again become a central part of the community for generations to come. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and residents were thrilled that their ideas had been captured in the recommendations. Many also said that this project gave them a feeling of hope, and they thanked us for restoring that feeling which had wavered at times since the storm.