A new publicly accessible community pier in Sandwich Town will soon extend over the Detroit River thanks in part to funding from the Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Plan.
Located at the foot of Mill Street within Port Windsor’s greenspace, The Queen’s Dock: A Cultural Pier, is set to begin construction. Early work will include the installation of anchor pilings and suspension wires, with the main structure craned into place by the end of August. A public opening is expected in September.
The new $2.5 million pier will feature Indigenous artwork, interpretive signage, QR codes, an expansion of the pedestrian pathway and a ceremonial space curated by First Nations leaders. Once open, the public will have access to an experiential vantage point of the riverfront and the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
“Port Windsor is committed to connecting people with our beautiful waterfront,” says Steve Salmons, the President and CEO of Windsor Port Authority. “While the business of the port is generating prosperity for all, it is also important to preserve access and appreciation for this amazing resource.”
The project team is providing $980,000 for the pier project through the Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy component of the Community Benefits Plan, which supports social, environmental and economic benefits to the communities of Sandwich/west Windsor and Delray/Southwest Detroit.
“We’re excited to support the Queen’s Dock Cultural Pier in Sandwich,” says Charl van Niekerk, the Chief Executive Officer of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. “I commend Windsor Port Authority for driving this transformative initiative to enhance Windsor’s shoreline, attract tourism, and provide a new gathering space for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
Once referred to as Wawiiatanong, the land where the pier will be located is the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy: Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawotami. Other First Nations have also called this area home, including the Huron (Wyandot) and the Attawandaron.
“Insights and guidance from Walpole Island First Nation, Caldwell First Nation, and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers have played a vital role in shaping the pier’s design,” says Peter Berry, Windsor Port Authority’s Vice President of Operations and Harbour Master. “First Nations leaders will decide on the stories that will be told.”
The layout honours the traditions of First Nations cultures’ directional path of learning – enter from the left, exit to the right – encouraging thoughtful movement and reflection.
With its clean lines, mesh railings, and modern suspension design, the pier will be both accessible and visually striking. The pier will remain a space for recreational fishing for the community.
Several other community-minded businesses have contributed to the project, including Haddad Morgan and Associates Ltd engineers, Studio g+G Architecture, Design and Restoration and Atlas Tube. Students from St. Clair College’s Landscape Design Program are also contributing to the surrounding green space.
