Ward 7 Coun. Angelo Marignani is encouraging Windsor residents to share their views on the future of Sand Point Beach when city council discusses the matter later this month. The beach, the only public swimming area in Windsor, has been closed since a tragic drowning incident in May 2025.
Background of the Closure
Sand Point Beach has been fenced off since a 15-year-old boy drowned in May 2025, marking the ninth swimming fatality near the site since it opened in 1986. In response, Windsor city council voted unanimously in June 2025 to close the beach pending a coroner's investigation. Ontario's coroner subsequently recommended that the Lifesaving Society, a charitable organization dedicated to preventing drownings, conduct a comprehensive safety audit.
Upcoming Council Meeting
The safety audit is expected to be presented to city council on June 29. Councillors will then vote on a plan for the beach based on the report's recommendations. Marignani emphasized the importance of public engagement, urging residents to read the report, which will be released publicly about a week before the meeting, and to attend the council session.
“I’d encourage people to go over the document, look at the options that are being presented,” Marignani said. “Say which one you like. What are the pros and what are the cons. Give that input.”
Master Plan and Investments
A master plan for Sand Point was presented to city council in 2023, recommending $15 million in improvements, including relocating the sand and swimming area eastward, away from a dangerous shipping channel. An amended version of the plan was approved in 2025. The city's 2026 capital budget has allocated $1.5 million for a new splash pad and playground upgrades at the beach.
Marignani expressed hope that the safety audit's options will align with the approved master plan. “It has to be done right. We can’t have another death. That’s the bottom line,” he stated.
Current State and Litigation Concerns
Despite the fencing, the beach remains a popular spot for visitors, though they cannot access the water. Marignani acknowledged that while the fence is necessary to protect the city from lawsuits, it is unsightly. “We need to bring it up to the standard of our other parks,” he said. “We have to do our due diligence to ensure that we mitigate any risk to residents, to people on the beach or in the park area and I think the city has done that.”
Marignani believes that proper improvements will enhance Windsor's image. “Our waterfront is the thing that is most Windsor,” he said. “Our residents are saying that they want to be proud of that waterfront. And at this point they’re not.” He added, “Once it is done, it’s going to be one of those attractions where it’s a great place to go and see one of the Great Lakes.”
The councillor urged residents to participate in the decision-making process, emphasizing that the beach's future is a community matter. The safety audit report will be available online prior to the June 29 council meeting, and public comments will be accepted.
