Background
The following information was presented by theForest Capital Development Association, Millennial Legacy Project . Current River Greenway Master Plan 2000
Current River Park
The birth of the Current River Park network began in 1891 when Port Arthur's Board of Directors purchased 360 acres of parkland on either side of the mouth of the Current river on Lake Superior. Spectacular views of both the lake and the Current River waterfalls were afforded from this park which later became a street car terminus and recreational activity node at the north end of the city.The park was expanded in 1902-1903. It then extended from Park Avenue west to the hill, south to Gibson Street and down to the Lake Superior waterfront. Only the CPR tracks and open trestle/bridge network divided the park.The largely natural park received modest development over its first decade. A dance pavilion was constructed in this era. The park also suffered from a disastrous flood in 1906 which necessitated the need for a new park plan. Accordingly, the City retained the consulting services of Canada's first and foremost landscape architect Frederick J. Todd. His mandate was to address the civic improvements and prepare plans for Current River and Waverly Park.A carriageway network which actually traversed the island at the mouth of the Current River was a unique feature of the plan. The Merry Knight Park Pavilion and numerous other park improvements were all incorporated in Mr. Todd's plans.
Surprisingly, the decline of Current River Park first began when the park was being most heavily used. During the period 1910 to 1920 the City sold off its park frontage on Lake Superior. The construction of Cumberland Street through the park, and continued upgrading to the CPR and later CNR transcontinental rail lines essentially cut the park in two. These civic improvements ultimately forced the majority of park development to occur between Cumberland Street and Boulevard Lake. Finally by 1926, with the sale of additional parkland, recreational activities along the waterfront were reduced and even views of Lake Superior were lost.From the 1930's, the City's focus increasingly centered on developing Boulevard Lake. Other active recreation facilities were developed at Current River Park which included the Park Arena, a tourist camp, sports fields and extensive day use/ picnic facilities.Today, Current River Park has become two distinct geographically separated entities; the Lake Superior Waterfront and the recreation and open spaces area above Cumberland and the Boulevard Lake Dam. Reference, Pages 21-23.
Mouth of the Current River (east of CPR tracks to Lake Superior)
East of the bridge on Shipyard Drive, remnants of the original Current River park become visible. Approximately 400 meters of Lake Superior frontage remains in City ownership. Other than use of the recently constructed Federal Government commercial fishing dock and boat launch and spring fishing for Smelt and Rainbow Trout, very little activity occurs in what was once the City's Edwardian waterfront pleasure ground .Reference, Page38.