St. Stephen looking to improve Gateway Park as entrance to town and country
They say first impressions are everlasting, so one of the entrances into the Maritimes is getting set for a facelift.
The municipality of St. Stephen, N.B., has begun discussion on reimagining Gateway Park, which is the first thing people travelling from south of the border see when they enter Canada. Currently on the site sits a replica covered bridge that is boarded up after the town’s homeless population made it an encampment site during the winter months.
“It’s the entrance to New Brunswick,” points out St. Stephen Mayor All MacEachern. “We are the gateway to the province, so it is very important to help guide people coming across the bridge and make it a pleasant experience coming across the border.”
The idea was first brought to council in March by Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Renaud during a Committee of the Whole meeting. While no plans have been set, potential ideas include removing the replica covered bridge currently on site in place of a visitor information centre.
There is limited parking in the area which could make putting a visitor information centre in that area difficult. The mayor urges residents to not read too much into any of the ideas being thrown out at this time as many discussions still need to be had.
“We are a little early on that because there is a lot to look at,” he says. “We have to make sure it works right because it’s pretty congested there.”
New signage for the area has also be discussed, as well as great accessibility access, connecting the small park to the neighbouring cenotaph.
“It’s challenging near the cenotaph as far as accessibility goes probably to say that least,” admits Renaud. “In our initial discussion we said, well we would like to see it, because we own all that land there, a nice smooth ramp or whatever, so we could get people with mobility issues up there.”
The Business Improvement Association is hopeful an improved entrance will drive up tourist numbers.
“Our goal is to have people stop and shop and dine and socialize and checkout what we have,” says St. Stephen Business Improvement Association executive director, Heather Donahue. “We don’t want them to driving through St. Stephen, we want them to stop.”
There is no timeline for when any work will begin as the municipality still needs to finalize any plans.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6972157.1721587842!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING NEWS Biden drops out of 2024 race, endorses Harris to be Democratic nominee
U.S. President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for re-election after a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about the incumbent's fitness for office with the election just four months away. It was a late-season campaign thunderstrike unlike any in American history.
What happens next: Joe Biden wants to pass the baton to Kamala Harris. Here's how that might work
With U.S. President Joe Biden ending his re-election bid and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrats now must navigate a shift that is unprecedented this late in an election year.
Harris, endorsed by Biden, could become first woman, second Black person to be U.S. president
Kamala Harris could become the first Black woman to head a major U.S. party presidential ticket after U.S. President Joe Biden abruptly ended his re-election bid and endorsed her.
Joy in Newfoundland after 'Lucky 7' fishers survive harrowing days lost at sea
There was a powerful word being repeated in the joyful Newfoundland community of New-Wes-Valley on Sunday: 'Miracle.'
Here are the signs you're ready to downsize your home
Amid the cost-of-living crisis, many Canadians are looking to find ways to save money, such as downsizing their home. But one Ottawa broker says there are several signs to consider before making the big decision.
A 12-year-old girl is accused of smothering her younger cousin over an iPhone
A 12-year-old girl in Tennessee has been charged with murder, accused of smothering her eight-year-old cousin as the younger girl slept. A relative said they had been arguing over an iPhone.
Trudeau and family head to British Columbia for vacation in unnamed location
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will head to British Columbia on Sunday, where he will be on vacation with his family until Aug. 1.
Read Biden's full text announcing the end to his re-election campaign
U.S. President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign on Sunday after fellow Democrats lost faith in his mental acuity and ability to beat Donald Trump. He announced his decision in a letter posted on social media. Read the full text.
Even if your kids roll their eyes, keep making jokes, research says
Researchers surveyed about 300 people about their experiences being raised with or without humour and their views on their childhood, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One.