Bayfield - Main Street facelift

By Nancy Fisher

Bayfield is a well loved gem of a town, but every now and then there comes a time when everything needs a little maintenance and updating to keep ahead of the times. So, after many years of discussion and planning, the Main Street of Bayfield is making some changes. 

 

The first phase happened in the spring of 2022 and saw much of the underground preparation that will lay the foundation for the beautification to come. Hydro and other services will now be buried and out of sight. There will be a pause in the major work to allow the summer tourism season to proceed. The businesses will all be open to fill the next few months with the sights and sounds and tastes that Bayfield is famous for. After a couple of uncertain years, locals and tourists alike are eager to stoll the heritage street and soak up the special atmosphere of cottage town chill.

 

After Labour Day, work will resume and much of the fabulous new look will emerge. Designed with the historical aspect of the village in mind, but also looking to accommodate as broad of a cross-section of the population as possible, there will be more accessible sidewalks, improved but still “old fashioned” light standards, new drainage and special gardens that will use accumulated rain water to keep them green. Where a few trees had to be removed, new ones will be added and the new look will still feel like the Bayfield that we all love. Better lighting and safer pathways will make shopping into the evenings even more enjoyable, and last long into the other seasons. The future is looking bright for the little gem.