Installing a new skate-multi-use trail along LaSalle's waterfront will mean removing 17 trees planted by families who wanted to memorialize loved ones.
Instead, the Town of LaSalle plans to install a butterfly garden with memorial plaques.
LaSalle councillors signed off on the next phase of its LaSalle Landing project on Tuesday night, which includes the trail, a water feature sponsored by the Rotary Club of LaSalle, and a utility building.
The town received six bids after issuing a Request for Proposals last December. The costs ranged from $11.3-milllion to Valente Contracting's bid of $8.88-million.
The town set aside $9-million in its budget for this phase of the project on Front Road.
Director of Strategy and Engagement Dawn Hadre said the town has attempted to contact families that planted trees, some in the early 1990s, for their input.
"We have made contact with 12 of those trees. We have leads on two more, leaving three that we're still searching for," Hadre explained. "All that we have spoken to are very understanding of the project and why the trees need to be removed. We have shown the renderings to them as well, and they're all in agreement that they like the idea of having that garden area."
Valente made a separate bid to install a backup generator for $1.1-million, but councillors opted to hold off on approving it. Plans for a warming hut will also come back to the council, but Deputy CAO Peter Marra said a temporary solution may be before then.
Councillor Mark Carrick expressed concerns the project is getting expensive.
"We've spent a lot of money, and I just want to make sure that as we move forward, perhaps after this, we can look at a pause," he said. "It's not cheap."
The new trail and water feature will be open to the public in December.
