Boulevard Lake History

Created in 1914, Boulevard Lake is located  on Lyon Boulevard and is approximately 650 acres large. The Park's is used mainly for passive recreation, including:

• swimming
• hiking
• boating
• golfing
• picnicking 

Major Features

• The original dam, constructed 1901-1902
• The present dam, constructed 1906-1907
• Black Bay Bridge, constructed 1911 
• Yacht club building, built 1914
• First concessions available at Black Bay Bridge, 1929
• Lyon Boulevard, park drive open 1936
• Boat house, constructed 1936
• Diving raft, tower, and Olympic Standard Diving Board, crib, and iconic lifeguard chair, installed ca. 1936-1940
• Dressing room and washroom, constructed 1938
• Boat rentals - rowboats, canoes, punts, available starting 1938
• Playground equipment - swings, slides, merry-go-round, jungle-gym, etc. 
• Miniature golf course, opened 1969
• 50 light posts installed around Boulevard Lake, 1969
• Lakeside Beach, Sunny Side Beach, and Sandy Cove, established by 1971
• Disc Golf course, installed 2010

Land Acquisition

123 acres were acquired from James Lyon between 1893 and 1914. 

Historical Highlights:

• In 1901-1902, a dam was constructed on the Current River, as a source of electric power. This dam resulted in the creation of the Boulevard Lake reservoir.
• In 1893, the town of Port Arthur purchased the first acres of land from Mr. James Lyon for $395. Port Arthur continued to acquire land from Lyon: 77.7 acres in 1901 for $521.26, 23.77 acres in 1911 for $2380, and 23 acres in 1914 for $51,000.
• Mr. Lyon attached a few conditions to the sale on June 23, 1914:
  • That a public roadway be constructed and that it surrounds the reservoir, and that it is called "Lyon Boulevard"
  • That the City is free to sell not more than one third of the land surrounding Lyon Boulevard
  • That the City name the parkland "Lyon Park" and that it would be maintained as a public park
• By July 1914, the gravel road, Lyon Boulevard, was complete. On July 15, 1914, 61 cars ceremoniously paraded from the Whalen building around Lyon Boulevard to Current River Park.
• 1911, the City of Port Arthur constructed the Black Bay Bridge. It was the first single span concrete bridge in Canada.
• In 1936, the "Current River Reservoir" was renamed "Boulevard Lake." Also this year, Council decreed that pulpwood could no longer be kept in Boulevard Lake.
• A boathouse and dressing rooms were constructed in 1936.
• 1936 was also the first year that swimmers at Boulevard Lake Park were protected by a lifeguard.
• In 1937, a bathing beach opened.
• In 1939, a boat rental business opened, renting out 3 buckhorn rowing boats, 3 Lake Queen Canoes, and 3 punts.
• The picnic locations at Boulevard Lake Park were named in 1962. They became:
  • Lakeview Park,
  • Birch Point Park,
  • Evergreen Park,
  • River Bend Park, 
  • Current River Park.
• In 1963, Black Bay Bridge was widened.
• In 1975, a new Multi-Service Building was constructed. This building replaced one which was severely burned in a fire in 1967.
• Charles Henry Ritchie bequeathed 4.24 acres of land in 1979. The four parcels of land stretched from the Black Bay Bridge to the edge of the Lyon property.
• The 1981 Jeux Canada Games held waterskiing competitions at Boulevard Lake.
• As part of the Millenium Project, Birch Point Park was bestowed park status in 2000. It is home to walking paths, a number of public art installations, and Thunder Bay's first disk golf course