Please fill out the short survey below by June 20.

Have your say on the name for the outdoor community space at 45 Lakeport Rd. in Port Dalhousie

Help Name This Space!

Following Council's direction on Nov. 18, 2024, the City is calling on residents to help name the outdoor public space in Port Dalhousie outlined in the aerial photo below.

While the community has referred to this space by several names over the years, it has never had an official one since its restoration. With the inconsistency, and to reflect the nature of the community collective that has helped make the space what it is today, last November City Coun. Carlos Garcia requested that a formal process for the naming of the site take place, beginning with public engagement to request potential names.

About This Space

45 Lakeport Rd., near Main Street, is the Port Dalhousie Commercial Core and Harbour Area Heritage Conservation District. 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.

How You Can Help

Naming suggestions, which will be accepted until Friday, June 20, can be submitted by using our online survey below. Once all suggestions have been received, staff will review the names and present a short list of finalists to the public. In accordance with the City's Naming Policy on Parks, Trails, and Recreation Facilities (linked on the right on this page), priority will be given to names that have local civic or historical significance, or names that reflect the geographic location of the space or its unique or noteworthy physical, environmental or scientific features and / or qualities. Consideration will also be given to names that recognize individuals, families, organizations, and / or foundations that have made a significant contribution to the local community. Voting on the finalists will open in summer 2025, and a preferred name will be presented to City Council in fall 2025.

Take the Survey

Please complete the short, two-question survey below and share your naming suggestions for the outdoor community space at 45 Lakeport Rd.