A new public pier overlooking the Gordie Howe International Bridge officially opened on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 [1].
The project provides the community with direct waterfront access in Windsor's west end. It serves as a physical landmark for reconciliation and connection within the region.
Located in Old Sandwich Towne, the structure is known as the Queens Dock pier and the Bezhigoyaak Pier, or the Queen's Dock Cultural Pier [1, 2, 3]. The site offers pedestrians a vantage point to view the Detroit River and the neighboring international bridge infrastructure [2, 3].
City officials and community organizers said they designed the space to celebrate community and reconciliation [3]. By opening the area to the public, the project aims to integrate the historic Old Sandwich Towne neighborhood with the modern developments of the riverfront [2, 3].
The opening on May 20, 2026 [1], marks the completion of a project intended to foster social connection through public architecture. The pier allows residents and visitors to engage with the waterfront in a previously restricted or underdeveloped area of the west end [2, 3].
“The project provides the community with direct waterfront access in Windsor's west end.”
The opening of the Bezhigoyaak Pier represents a strategic effort to balance industrial infrastructure, such as the Gordie Howe International Bridge, with public recreational space. By framing the pier as a tool for reconciliation and community connection, the city is attempting to revitalize the historic Old Sandwich Towne area while acknowledging the cultural significance of the waterfront.
