Nickel Beach operations have closed for the fall/winter season. The Beach is now only open for pedestrian walk-on access at all hours. 


2023 Fall Hours of Operation 

The Beach is now open for pedestrian walk-on access at all hours

SplashTown Niagara Inflatable Waterpark

Closed until 2024 season.

Nickel Beach Code of Conduct

Please respect our facilities; help us maintain a clean, safe, secure, and positive atmosphere for all by following the code of conduct and respecting other patrons and staff.

 

  • The City of Port Colborne has a ZERO TOLERANCE FOR VIOLENCE OR HARASSMENT
  • Show respect to other patrons, and staff - treat everyone with courtesy and consideration
  • Bullying, or causing a disturbance, in any form, is not acceptable and will not be tolerated
  • Respect the property - horseplay, damage or vandalism of any kind is prohibited
  • Be fully responsible for your actions and understand that irresponsible behaviour may result in disciplinary action
  • Please report any inappropriate behaviour to City staff, security, or the Niagara Regional Police

 

Any violation is considered a breach of this Code of Conduct.

 

Individual(s) that breach the Code of Conduct will be subject to immediate expulsion from the facility at which the beach occurs, with the potential for further suspension from Nickel Beach and surrounding campus.

Rules & Regulations

Refusal of Entry & Ejection

The City of Port Colborne reserves the right to refuse entry or eject any patron (resident or non-resident) that are found:

  • Upselling, transferring or selling daily parking passes or residential PORTicipate passes
  • Falsifying information in order to manipulate fees for access
  • Setting up external speaker systems and/or playing music at excessive and disruptive levels
  • Engaging in disruptive or abusive behavior towards staff, security, or any other member of the public which contravenes the Nickel Beach Code of Conduct
  • Driving dangerously
  • In possession of prohibited items
  • Engaging in any activity that may be found harmful to the natural environment
  • Lighting fires
  • Launching motorized watercraft from the beachfront
  • Camping on the beachfront

Waste Management

Beachgoers are reminded to be respectful of their environment. Please use the waste receptacles provided for acceptable items only. All leftover charcoal or propane tanks are the responsibility of the user to dispose of. Anyone found littering or leaving prohibited barbecue waste are subject to fines.

 What you can bring to the beach
  • Wagon or cooler on wheels
  • Chairs (a limited number of chairs are available for rent at a cost of $5 per day)
  • Personal hand sanitizer
  • Sunscreen
  • Towels
  • Water toys
  • Water, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks
  • Umbrellas for shade
  • Personal BBQs (propane or charcoal)

    We ask that you dispose of any waste accumulated during your beach visit in the receptacles provided.

What not to bring to the beach
  • Alcohol
  • Drugs
  • Cigarettes and vaping devices. All beaches in Niagara are smoke and vape free.
  • Pets (with the exception of registered service animals)
  • Motorized watercraft,
  • Any type of tent/shade structures that are enclosed, or that exceed a 10x10 footprint.
  • Large external speaker systems

Is Lake Erie safe for swimming?

During the summer months, beaches along Lake Erie are safe to swim in. If the water is unsafe to swim in, Niagara Region Public Health signs will be posted at the entrance of the beach.

Beaches are unsafe for swimming when the water contains levels of bacteria that may increase a bather's risk of developing a variety of irritations and infections. Most common are minor skin, eye, ear, nose and throat infections and occasional stomach disorders. Sometimes a beach may be posted unsafe because of floating debris, oil, scum, excessive weed growth, bad odors and general turbidity.

Niagara Region Public Health will post the status of local beaches every Friday during the summer.

To obtain information on the status of beaches in the Niagara Region call 1-888-505-6074, ext. 7789.

Check the latest beach status!

 

Accessible Parking

Accessible parking is available in Zone 1. Accessible spaces require a valid Ontario Accessible Parking Permit and a Zone 1 Nickel Beach Accessible parking pass. 

Frequently asked questions:

Who can access Nickel Beach?

Everyone is welcome at Nickel Beach. There is a charge for parking for anyone who does not have a PORTicipate pass. PORTicipate passes are available for free for Port Colborne residents.
Is walk-on or bicycle access allowed at Nickel Beach?
Yes! There is no gate entrance fee, so pedestrians or cyclists have free access to Nickel Beach. There are bicycle racks at the front entrance of the beach.
Are there beachfront parking options available at Nickel Beach?
Due to a request from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), parking on the beach will not be available this year to accommodate the habitat and breeding grounds for the Fowler’s Toad, an endangered species in Ontario. 
Will Port Colborne residents need a pass to access Nickel Beach?

Yes. Port Colborne residents will need a PORTicipate Pass to park for free within Zone 2 or Zone 3 at Nickel Beach. PORTicipate passes are free for Port Colborne residents. Visit the PORTicipate Pass page to learn more about how to register and pick-up your pass.

 
Does my PORTicipate Pass parking pass grant me access to SplashTown Niagara waterpark?
No. The SplashTown Niagara inflatable waterpark at Nickel Beach operates independently of the City of Port Colborne. SplashTown Niagara is opening Friday June 30th, 2023.

When does the 2023 beach season open?

The 2023 beach season will begin Victoria Day long weekend in May and stay open until Labour Day weekend.
Will washroom facilities be available?

Yes, washroom facilities are available at Nickel beach and include accessible/family units.  Washrooms are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily during summer hours, and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. during fall hours.

Residents and visitors alike have been eager to see new washroom facilities at Nickel Beach since the decommissioning of the old beachfront washroom building in 2021.  

With the support of Vale Canada by way of a Community Improvement Grant, the City of Port Colborne has installed new accessible mobile washrooms. 

This project is funded in part by the Province of Ontario.

How did the City make the decision to not allow parking on the beach this summer? 
Due to a request from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation & Parks (MECP), parking on Nickel Beach is not available this year to accommodate the habitat and breeding grounds for the Fowler’s Toad, an endangered species in Ontario.

The City has fielded many questions about how this came to be. In the interest of transparency and accountability, we have published our communications with the MECP as they relate to Nickel Beach and the decision to remove beachfront parking for this year.

The communications are organized chronologically below:

July 25, 2017: The City receives a letter from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry regarding a plan for proposed maintenance at Nickel Beach. The letter notes that Ministry staff reviewed the City’s plan for completing work on the beach and noted it would not contravene the Endangered Species Act, 2007 for the Fowler’s Toad, provided a number of conditions were met.

Sept. 17, 2020: The City receives a letter from the MECP regarding the City’s annual beach activities for 2020 and the Fowler’s Toad habitat in Ontario. The letter notes that, generally, beach maintenance activities should be complete before May 1 to have a low likelihood of adversely impacting the Fowler’s Toad.

Aug. 12, 2022: The MECP issues a Violation Notice to the City. It notes the Ministry’s concerns cars parked directly on the beach, the installation of a replacement fence on the western end of the beach, and the construction of a gravel lot.

Sept. 9, 2022: The City responds to the Violation Notice from the MECP with a letter prepared by Biologist Lisa Price from LCA Environmental Consultants. The response to the MECP includes the consultant’s review of the violations as noted by the MECP. The letter outlines the consultant’s view on the construction of the parking lot, beach entrance driveway, on-beach parking, beach maintenance activities and fencing along the western limit of the beach. The consultant provided recommendations for the City, including a plan for keeping the public off the dunes and the sensitive habitat of the Fowler’s Toad, plans for amenity services at the beach, suggestions for an upgraded beach operations manual and more.

Sept. 28, 2022: The MECP responds to the City with a letter than notes the report from LCA Environmental Consultants does not satisfy the requirements of the August 2022 Violation Notice. It requests proposed steps that will restore the Fowler’s Toad habitat, mitigate the harm, and/or provide alternative habitat for the toad.

Oct. 20, 2022: The City responds to the MECP with another letter prepared by Biologist Lisa Price from LCA Environmental Consultants. The letter outlines LCA’s scope of work for the City of Port Colborne, including their work to prepare a mitigation and restoration plan to address the Violation Order noted above.

November 3, 2022: The City holds a notable meting with the MECP to discuss the ongoing Nickel Beach matters. From the City’s perspective, the MECP shared that the City has been good stewards of the beach, but that people don’t park on beaches anymore. The MECP shared that it would be unlikely for the City to be able to satisfy the Endangered Species Act if cars are allowed to park on the beach.

December 15, 2022: The City sends another response to the Ministry, which includes another letter from LCA Environmental Consultants that addresses the violation notice and provides the requested details regarding items identified in the Violation Notice. The letter notes that the City is committed to working with the Ministry to remove vehicles from the beach and introduce enhanced measurers to protect the Fowler Toad. Also on this date, an addendum from LCA Environmental Consultants is also included in the package sent to the MECP.

Jan. 18, 2023: The City receives an email from the Species at Risk branch of the MEPC. The email provides comments on the documents shared with the Ministry in December and notes that they are reasonable, valid and do not require further authorization to proceed. The email discusses the impacts of on-beach parking and notes that multiple vehicles driving on the beach in Fowler’s Toad habitat during the active season may result in toads being killed/harmed/harassed that are moving between shoreline and dune habitat. The email notes that authorization for on-beach parking is required

Jan. 31, 2023: After a series of verbal discussions with the MECP, the City shares additional information with the Ministry via another letter prepared by Biologist Lisa Price from LCA Environmental Consultants. The letter provides a map and explanation for the proposed location of two new restroom buildings, a staff trailer, two sea-can buildings for secure storage.

Feb. 28, 2023: Port Colborne City council receives a staff report regarding proposed changes to beachfront parking, the construction of new parking lots and updated rates for the 2023 season. The Staff Report is also shared with the Ministry.

April 25, 2023: Port Colborne City Council receives a presentation that provides an update on the work at Nickel Beach, including updates to the parking lot construction, Fowler’s Toad habitat, beach operations, beach finances and more.