City calls on residents to help name outdoor public space in Port Dalhousie

The City of St. Catharines is asking residents to participate in the naming of an outdoor public space in Port Dalhousie.

Today, the City’s “Name This Space!” public engagement project opened on its EngageSTC platform, at www.engagestc.ca/name-this-space. to solicit residents’ naming suggestions for the space at 45 Lakeport Rd., near Main Street, in the Port Dalhousie Commercial Core and Harbour Area Heritage Conservation District. Residents can submit their ideas in a brief, two-question survey until Friday, June 20, at 4:30 p.m.

The vibrant community space has a rich history, once serving as Lock 1 for the second Welland Canal, which operated from 1845 until 1935, when it was replaced by the third Welland Canal. The lock’s stone walls are still visible today and have been incorporated into the surrounding public realm landscape.

In 2018, with efforts from the City, Kiwanis Club of St. Catharines, National Trust for Canada, Port Dalhousie Beautification and Works Committee, Rankin Construction, and various private donors, Lock 1 was revamped as an outdoor event space. A stage and terraced seating were built into the lock. Later, public art (“The Pull” sculpture) was commissioned by the Kiwanis Club of St. Catharines and the Port Dalhousie Beautification and Works Committee, with support from the Harbour Club, Niagara Community Foundation, private donors, and volunteers. “The Pull” was sculpted by Veronica and Edwin Dam de Nogales from Barcelona, Spain, and Floyd Elzinga from Beamsville, Ont. Additionally, through a partnership with the Port Dalhousie Conservancy, an historic NS and T (Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto) former railway trolley shed was added to the upper plaza area. Today, this public space is used as a venue for outdoor concerts and community events and is enjoyed by both residents and visitors.

The public engagement process is part of the City’s Naming Policy on Parks, Trails and Recreation Facilities.

“The City recognizes the names of our amenities have an important influence on the sense of community and offering the public the opportunity to submit their ideas and feedback is an important part of the process,” said Amanda Knutson, the City’s Community Project and Development Planner.

The City encourages names that reflect and acknowledge the area’s history, heritage and environment through a transparent and equitable naming policy. The policy prioritizes names in the following order:

1. Civic or historical significance
2. Geographic location or features
3. Significant individuals, families, organizations, and foundations.

Voting on the finalists will open in summer 2025, and a preferred name will be presented to City Council in fall 2025.

For more details and to share your ideas, visit www.engagestc.ca/name-this-space.