It is hoped that before the leaves change colour, Collingwood residents will be able to enjoy waterfront trail access along the site of the former shipyards. Mayor Chris Carrier said the town's contribution to the trail and park development is 2.8 million dollars, apprximately $400,000.00 over the initial budget number. Collingwood council voted in favour of moving forward with the increased cost at its regular meeting on Monday, March 30th.

"We had originally budgeted two million, and then put in the cost of inflation which brought the number to 2.4 million" Carrier said. "It is about 437,000.00 more in costs that we had anticipated, but there were also some changes" Carrier said, adding that the initial estimates were put together several years ago.

"I don't think there is anybody here who was alive when the public had access to this waterfront property over 105 years ago" Carrier said. "Any community on the Great Lakes in Ontario has been striving to get waterfront access back to the public, and from day one with Fram Slokker and CSL we have been negoatiating for this. Fram Slokker has been a great community partner for this and we are really looking forward to having the waterfront opened up in such a spectacular way" Carrier said.