Navy Memorial Park Improvements

Navy Memorial Park is a waterfront parkette located along Ontario Street, between Lower Union Street and Gore Street. Originally established by the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WREN) Association of Kingston, the space became an official City of Kingston parkette in 2003.

The park includes a central plaza that provides a connection from Ontario St. to the Great Lakes Museum and Dry Dock. Next to the plaza is a monument commemorating His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS). Memorial events are held in the plaza to commemorate fallen Canadians who served in His Majesty’s service. Renovations of

the plaza are needed to maintain and improve access to neighbouring properties, site features, and to support ongoing and future events.

Phase 1 Improvements

In the short-term, to ensure access for upcoming events, the City plans to remove the cobblestone pathway to the monument and temporarily replace it with an accessible granular surface.

The planting beds adjacent to the monument will also be removed as part of this interim work.

These measures are temporary and expected to be completed in the summer of 2026, ahead of Phase 2 improvements.

Phase 2 Improvements

The City is also planning for a full replacement of the plaza space to address the uneven and damaged surface, provide a formal connection from the plaza space to the HMCS monument, and address the desired pedestrian path which connects the north side of the park to the Dry Dock area.

Existing granite pavers form part of the cobblestone path to the HMCS monument. On them are etched the names of the nine Canadian World War II corvettes that were constructed in the Kingston Shipyards. Commemoration of these vessels is planned to be incorporated into Phase 2 improvements.

This summer (2026), geotechnical and archaeological investigations will be conducted onsite. Representatives and advocates of HMSC will be consulted in 2026 to ensure the enhancements support future memorial events.

Construction of Phase 2 improvements will depend on findings from 2026 investigations and budget approval, with construction expected in summer 2027.

Stay Informed

Project updates will be shared on this page, if you would like to receive them in your email please sign up for updates on this page.

Navy Memorial Park is a waterfront parkette located along Ontario Street, between Lower Union Street and Gore Street. Originally established by the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WREN) Association of Kingston, the space became an official City of Kingston parkette in 2003.

The park includes a central plaza that provides a connection from Ontario St. to the Great Lakes Museum and Dry Dock. Next to the plaza is a monument commemorating His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS). Memorial events are held in the plaza to commemorate fallen Canadians who served in His Majesty’s service. Renovations of

the plaza are needed to maintain and improve access to neighbouring properties, site features, and to support ongoing and future events.

Phase 1 Improvements

In the short-term, to ensure access for upcoming events, the City plans to remove the cobblestone pathway to the monument and temporarily replace it with an accessible granular surface.

The planting beds adjacent to the monument will also be removed as part of this interim work.

These measures are temporary and expected to be completed in the summer of 2026, ahead of Phase 2 improvements.

Phase 2 Improvements

The City is also planning for a full replacement of the plaza space to address the uneven and damaged surface, provide a formal connection from the plaza space to the HMCS monument, and address the desired pedestrian path which connects the north side of the park to the Dry Dock area.

Existing granite pavers form part of the cobblestone path to the HMCS monument. On them are etched the names of the nine Canadian World War II corvettes that were constructed in the Kingston Shipyards. Commemoration of these vessels is planned to be incorporated into Phase 2 improvements.

This summer (2026), geotechnical and archaeological investigations will be conducted onsite. Representatives and advocates of HMSC will be consulted in 2026 to ensure the enhancements support future memorial events.

Construction of Phase 2 improvements will depend on findings from 2026 investigations and budget approval, with construction expected in summer 2027.

Stay Informed

Project updates will be shared on this page, if you would like to receive them in your email please sign up for updates on this page.

Page last updated: 09 Jul 2026, 03:11 PM