moving onto site after completing another Marriott project elsewhere. Piling work and groundwork are underway, and the hotel’s location is strategic: on the waterfront, across the river from downtown, and within walkable distance via sidewalks and trail connections. The intent is clear—make it easy for visitors to stay on the water and still experience downtown restaurants, shops, and events without needing a car. This project aligns directly with the town’s broader waterfront vision. WATERFRONT MASTER PLANNING MEETS OFFICIAL PLANNING Parry Sound has recently completed a waterfront master plan, and the town’s official plan update is progressing in tandem, with both documents moving toward council review and broader public engagement. Together, these plans provide the structure to guide waterfront growth, increase flexibility in development applications, and clarify what types of projects fit the town’s long-term vision. Importantly, the waterfront master plan was built with substantial public input, including multiple public meetings that shaped concepts and priorities. The goal is to create a waterfront that works on multiple levels—leisure, recreation, tourism, and business—without treating those uses as competing priorities. Parry Sound already has proof points that the waterfront can be a signature asset.The town recently incorporated a wide boardwalk—approximately 20 feet across—into breakwall improvements at the Big Sound Marina, allowing residents and visitors to walk out into Georgian Bay and take in views back toward town. The Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts remains another defining waterfront anchor, known for world-class acoustics and a striking interior defined by wood and stone construction. 159 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 PARRY SOUND, ON
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