'just the first step' — windsor opens $15.5m city hall square
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tayah habib frolics in the newly-unveiled water jet fountain during the opening ceremonies of the public space at city hall while dad zack and sister talia watch on sunday, july 13, 2025. (brian macleod/windsor star)
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the first stage of a master plan to connect windsor city hall with the waterfront through a civic esplanade — a concept that is more than five decades old, according to mayor drew dilkens — opened to the public sunday as windsor celebrated its 133rd birthday.
the new multi-purpose public space contains a 26-by-60-metre oval-shaped rink, a pavilion housing public washrooms, a jet water feature that will operate for most of the year and a light display that will run in the evening most of the year. it also contains a built-in electrical system that can support festivals with food trucks, vendors, or performers.
the city suffered for several years “putting lipstick on a pig” with repairs to the old faltering ice rink at charles clark square park, dilkens told the crowd gathered for the weekend unveiling.
that ice rink closed in 2022, and council approved a concept for five stages of redevelopment a year later.
public consultations showed a desire for year-round amenities for public use, rather than just a new ice rink, dilkens said.
the exact cost of the new amenities so far is not known and will be revealed at council in the future, though it is projected to be around $15,455,000.
the federal government contributed $6.7 million.
windsor, sunday, july 13, 2025 – windsor mayor drew dilkens, members of city council, and other officials cut the ribbon on the new city hall square space on sunday, july 13, 2025. (brian macleod/windsor star)
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dilkens thanked councillors “for seeing the vision, for adopting the vision.
“this is just the first step, guys,” he told the crowd. “there are successive steps that other city councils will have to deal with to complete the plan that will take us right to the waterfront and continue to celebrate our city.”
the new facilities offer a moment free of the economic stress that windsorites are dealing with in the face of tariffs from the united states, said dilkens.
“some of you may look at me, you may look at city hall, you may feel some stress of the time that we’re in, thinking about our friends across the river in the united states and some of the pressure that we’re collectively dealing with (through) tariffs. but you know what? it’s a moment in time, and we’ve got a lot to celebrate from our history, which we do across our wonderful city. yes, the present is a little difficult, but let’s look forward … to the wonderful future that we have.”
the city celebrated its birthday on sunday with live entertainment — including big louis and the band, and later in the day the windsor symphony youth orchestra — free cupcakes, recreational demonstrations and activities, a children’s art exhibition and family friendly games, with several city councillors and local mps harb gill and kathy borrelli on hand to watch the ceremonies.
artist chris sisti urges people to celebrate, explore and discover windsor in chalk at the newly unveiled civic square public space prior to the opening ceremonies on sunday, july 13, 2025. (brian macleod/windsor star)
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windsor star
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radio host dan macdonald and windsor’s chief administrative officer ray mensour performed the introductions throughout the ceremonies, which included a ribbon cutting.
indigenous storyteller theresa sims acknowledged the land of the three fires confederacy, and poet laureate peter hrastovec offered an ode to the history of the land that led to the current celebrations.
in an interview after the opening ceremonies, dilkens said such projects inevitably draw criticism about the cost and whether money should be spent elsewhere instead.
“people will say, ‘oh, you’re doing this and you’re not doing something else.’ the reality is we are still investing in record amounts in the important things like roads and sewers, but we can do that and still have quality-of-life amenities that we’re building and still have the lowest tax increase of any city in ontario,” he said.
“and here we are with a wonderful gathering spot for everyone in the city to use.”
future councils will have to decide over several terms how to enact the master plan that will complete the civic esplanade to the waterfront, he said.
“they’re going to consult and make sure they get it right. and it’ll evolve. i think it’ll evolve based on community needs and what the community wants.”
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future councils are not bound to spend any money on the esplanade.
the five segments in the master plan include city hall square; charles clark square; an arts park; a riverside plaza; and a crossing at riverside drive.
— with files from taylor campbell
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