City acquiring two properties for river access points

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The City of Fredericton will soon acquire two waterfront properties to develop new access points to the St. John and Nashwaak rivers for recreational boaters, kayakers and canoers.

City council voted unanimously recently to accept a donation of a 1,979-square-metre parcel on River Road in Penniac, along the Nashwaak, from Dr. Donald Fraser MacQuarrie to install a boat launch at the old Penniac Bridge site.

Council also voted unanimously to buy a 1.74-hectare portion of the Currie Mountain lot on Route 105 from the University of New Brunswick for $100,000.

“We’ve been looking at adding various water access points around the city,” said Coun. Steven Hicks. “This will certainly help facilitate that.”

David Seabrook, assistant director of growth and community services, said the Nashwaak property will allow the city to add a non-motorized watercraft launch site as part of its efforts to create more access to Fredericton’s waterways.

Seabrook said it will allow paddlers, kayaks, canoes, and “somewhat adventurous paddleboarders” to put in using a winding path to the water and an abutment for the old bridge, which linked Canada Street to River Road before it was demolished last year.

“It’s one of several put-ins we’re considering this year to create a network of put-ins,” he said. “This will allow people to paddle all the way down to the mouth of the Nashwaak River near the Picaroons Roundhouse and Carleton Park.

“The Nashwaak is probably one of the most beautiful natural environments around where you can experience eagles and herons. It’s a spectacular spot.”

The donation and Currie Mountain purchase were previously discussed March 25 at a council-in-committee meeting. A report presented to council from the city clerk’s office said the Penniac property’s owner was an avid outdoorsman and agreed to transfer the land to the municipality as a donation so it could be used for public recreational purposes.

An income tax receipt for the site’s fair market value will be issued to the owner, the report states.

Meanwhile, the Currie Mountain purchase will be credited to UNB against outstanding debts owed to the city, according to a report from the clerk’s office.

“City staff have been in consultation with UNB representatives regarding this portion of land as it has been identified as a potential area for public access to the river, which would increase recreational opportunities for the public, while allowing for the city to ensure proper maintenance of the lands,” the report states.

“This would be beneficial in terms of both the community engagement with the river access, as well as from a conservational standpoint with the city being able to monitor and correct issues along the waterfront as required.”