Developing Hartland’s waterfront vision
The world’s longest covered bridge is a New Brunswick icon and world-acclaimed attraction, drawing thousands of visitors to downtown Hartland each year. The challenge is encouraging visitors to spend more time and money in the Carleton County community described as the “Little Town, Big Heart.”
That challenge was on the minds of a few dozen residents and officials on May 21 when they gathered at an open house in the Hartland Baptist Church on the downtown waterfront they hope to revitalize.
Dan Glenn of Glenn Group led the discussion, outlining the challenges, ideas, opportunities, and potential funding partners needed to make the picturesque and historic little hamlet a tourist draw and economic driver.
Glenn explained that getting visitors is not the problem, noting the town welcomes an estimated 70,000 tourists each summer.
“The key is to get them to stay,” he said. “If you’re not selling anything, it’s not economic growth.”
The Glenn Group, landscape architects and park planners, offer a wealth of experience and success throughout New Brunswick and other parts of Canada.
Glenn cited several examples of the firm’s efforts, including such New Brunswick tourist landmarks as Kingsbrae Gardens in St. Andrews, the Fundy Trail Parkway, Hopewell Rocks and Reversing Falls in Saint John. The company’s planning efforts are well established along the St. John River, including the recent waterfront upgrade in Nackawic and the Grand Falls Gorge.
In fact, Glenn noted that the group had enhanced Hartland’s waterfront 30 years ago.
The open house, hosted by Glenn and Hartland’s Communications and Development Specialist Michelle Derrah, sought to explain the process and seek input surrounding the revitalization of the waterfront.
In addition to residents, Mayor Tracey DeMerchant, several councillors and, Carleton MLA and Early Childhood and Education Minister Bill Hogan attended the meeting.
Following the open house, DeMerchant said the town is willing to invest in downtown revitalization. Still, success requires private investment to provide products and services for residents and visitors.
“It’s important to differentiate between the investment of the town and the private sector,” she said.
DeMerchant said the town, with federal and provincial funding support, is willing to provide the required public infrastructure, but the business investment must come from private sources.
“The town can build something to attract business investment,” she explained.
Glenn outlined five guiding principles for a successful project: local culture and sense of place, industry and personal livelihoods, environment and scenery, history and heritage, and water access.
Glenn and many visitors cited easy access to the St. John River as a central brick in any waterfront revitalization. Glenn’s presentation included plans for a marina and associated support businesses to take advantage of the significant increase in boating interests since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jim Dumville, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, River Valley Sun
