Paver Project unites community for Bay Beach beautification initiative

No stone is being left unturned when it comes to putting the finishing touches on the Crystal Beach sign installed at Bay Beach last year.

Standing about five feet tall and close to 30 feet long, the sign was made possible through partnerships between a number of organizations.

But there is more work to be done to fill in the grassy area surrounding the colourful sign at the popular public beach.

The 2024 Paver Project is an effort to seek donors to buy 400 bricks that will be placed in front of the sign, each of them marked with the name of the donating organization, business, or individuals.

On Wednesday night, an event was held at The Crystal Chandelier as a fundraiser for the project, which is being led by the Crystal Beach BIA and the Ridgeway-Crystal Beach Kin Club.

The event was a Margaritaville-themed celebration.

The funds donated will cover the cost of the stones “and then some,” said BIA vice-chair Chris Hawkswell, noting that that the BIA also covers beautification efforts in Crystal Beach, such as flowers and banners.

The bricks will be sold in two phases, 200 in each.

“If it takes three or four more of these events to sell them out, then that’s what we’ll do,” he told Fort Erie Radio on Wednesday night.

Dan Strugar, treasurer of the Ridgeway-Crystal Beach Kin Club is also the liaison with the BIA on this project.

The local Kin service club recently formed by merging Ridgeway and Crystal Beach and this is one of their first projects.

“We were looking for new ways to integrate ourselves back into the community as a new club,” said Strugar.

“It came to us at the perfect time,” he added, hopeful that bricks will start being laid before next summer.

“We still do have quite a way to go.” he said.

Tom Lewis, councillor for Crystal Beach (Ward 5), said beautification has always been a focal point of the BIA since it was formed in 2003, especially through its beautification committee. He’s pleased to see the Paver Project moving ahead at Bay Beach.

“This is a final piece of making it accessible and kind of finishing it off,” said Lewis, who is council’s representative on the BIA. “It’s nice to see beautification being a strong mandate for the BIA.”

Paver stones are available for $299 each. Those interested can email paverproject2024@gmail.com for more information.

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