STC150: Sunset Beach

One of the most popular locations in the city to cool off on those hot summer days is Sunset Beach, located at 1 Lombardy Avenue in the Port Weller area.

Originally known as Municipal Beach, the land was owned by the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority until 1984 when the City began leasing the land for public use for $100 per year. Little is known about when the name Municipal Beach first came into use but it had been identified by that name on city maps at least as early as 1961.

In 1999 the Seaway Authority identified the land as surplus and in January 2003, the City of St. Catharines acquired the land from the Seaway for $2.

On August 24, 2015, City Council voted to rename Municipal Beach to Sunset Beach.

Today, Sunset Beach is a seven-hectare park which includes a large playground, a boat launch, picnic areas and walkways and a new parking area.

The above photo shows beachgoers enjoying a day at Municipal Beach in 1946. (2016.40.1)