Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick

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The town of Grand Bay-Westfield is an amalgamation of the Town of Grand Bay and the Village of Westfield, on the Saint John River northwest of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. As of 2001 the population was 4,949, of which 3,405 were in Grand Bay and 1,544 were in Westfield. The two municipal governments were merged in 1998. The town takes up much of the western Kings County.

The town is now regarded as a suburb of Saint John, as most of the residents go there for employment. A large percent of the residents are tradespeople employed at the Pt. Lepreau Nuclear Plant in Maces Bay, Colseon Cove coal-burning plant, the Moosehead Brewery located on the Westside of Saint John. There are also some professionals and entrepreneurs. The town is mostly middle class.

1 Character
2 History
3 Transportation
4 Housing
5 Neighbourhoods
6 Parks
7 Important Buildings
8 See also
9 See also
10 Important Buildings
11 External link

[edit] Character

Much of the town is still rural, especially Westfield. Also, contrary to Saint John's other two suburbs (Rothesay & Quispamsis), Grand Bay-Westfield is less dense and develops at a much slower rate.

[edit] History

It was discovered by Samuel de Champlain, who named Grand Bay (Grande Baie) for its wide view. Westfield is either named after Westfield, MA where some of its settlers came from, or for its geographic location on the west shore of the Saint John River. The area started out as "cottage country" for the Saint John area, and remained so for a long time (and is still considered to be so by some). Due to the steep hills and rock, the area never became heavily engaged in agriculture, although some did exist (and still does).

Many CP rail stations were established in the area (they were named Grand Bay, Pamdenec, Epworth Park, Ingleside, Ononette, Hillandale, Westfield Beach, Lingley, Sagwa & Nerepis). As you can see, the rail formed a very important role in public and industrial transportation.

[edit] Transportation

Roads and Streets

Route 177 is the town's main road, and is called River Valley Drive while in the Grand Bay section of town, and Nerepis Road while in the Westfield part. Other main streets are Woolastook Drive, which winds through the highlands of Grand Bay, and Inglewood Drive is host to the Pamdenec, Epworth Park, Brandy Point & Ingleside subdivisions on Grand Bay's shorefront. Also, NB Route 102 which begins north of Fredericton ends in Westfield. Highway #7, the main route from Saint John to Fredericton, passes through the western extremity of the town.

Ferries

The town has a ferry landing at the end of Ferry Road in Westfield. The cable ferry (there are two at this location in the summertime) connects Westfield with the community of Hardings Point on the Kingston Peninsula. There is a popular campground just a few feeet from the ferry landing.

Southwestern New Brunswick is home to many cable ferries and are an important part of our transportation heritage. Although only one is in the town, there are seven more cable ferries nearby.

Bridges

Nerepis Steel Bridge (on Route 102) is a large bridge over the mouth of the Nerepis River connecting Lingley (Westfield) to Woodman's Point, which is outside the town's limits.

Brittain Bridge connects Westfield with Nerepis (outside town limits) upriver from the steel bridge. It is on Brittain Road.

The Army Bridge crosses Henderson Brook. It is a popular beaver-watching area, located on Shannon Road in the downtown area.

Milligan Bridge is on the main road (Route 177) and crosses Milligan Brook. This is where the former boundary between the two former municipalities was. River Valley Drive becomes Nerepis Road at this point.

[edit] Housing

Grand Bay-Westfield is mostly modest single detached housing, although upscale and lowscale do exist. There are several apartment buildings in the Epworth Park Road/Inglewood Drive. Westfield has many older Victorian style homes from the railroad days. Many homes are former cottages that have been converted (especially in southern Grand Bay's Bayview Road area, and in Epworth Park, Pamdenec and Ingleside, which are all on the riverfront in Grand Bay). The town has one senior citizens apartment building, the Western Kings Kiwanis Lodge on Eldon Lane. There is also one special care home in the town limits, and a few more outside. There is another seniors complex in the works for the Lions Field area, and many longterm plans to add higher-density housing in the southern end of Grand Bay.

[edit] Neighbourhoods

Grand Bay Section

Grand Bay- These three neighbourhoods (areas around Murray St, Thompson Rd & Bayview Rd) constitute the original Village of Grand Bay. It is the downtown core of the town. Most businesses are located here and the area borders the City of Saint John, although the closest hint of an urban environment is almost 20 minutes away.
Highlands/Round Lake- heavily wooded and very steep, wind through the backlands and end at Round Lake.
Pamdenec- Once a former municipality (Village of Pamdenec) itself, Pamdenec amalgamated with the Village of Grand Bay in the 1970's. The town hall and fire department are located here at 609-615 River Valley Drive.
Epworth Park- A former cottage community, it is nestled in the woods right on the Saint John River shore. The arena and middle school are located here.
Brandy Point Estates- A suburban-type neighbourhood built in the 1970's and 1980's. Historically part of Epworth Park, it is now much larger in population than Epworth.
Ingleside- The last community before Milligan Brook before you enter Westfield.
Panoramic Estates- This is a new growing subdivision consisting of three streets, June Avenue, Florence Drive and Boyd Street. The streets are very steep, like Beverly Hills. It is the town's only new area.
Epworth Park Heights- This neighbourhood is west of Epworth Park and is much higher. Epworth Park Heights is very distinct from Epworth Park proper.
Beverly Hills & Valley View Estates- The most affluent part of town, this growing neighbourhood is off Woolastook Drive. The streets of the area are characterized by extremely steep hills and dense woods.
Brookdale Heights- A hilly neighbourhood on the edge of Milligan Brook. Brookside Park is a small garden area located near the entrance to the neighbourhood.

Westfield Section

Ononette- A very old community. Home of Unity Park.
Hillandale- Also very old, Hillandale strteches along the wide Saint John River and includes the school and ferry to Hardings Point.
Westfield Beach & Lingley- The former a very old cottage community, the latter a suburban-style neighbourhood stretching far back into the hills. Lingley is the last part of town to touch the Saint John River as it bends towards Brown's Flat at this point. Lingley is hoem to the highway exchanges from Route 177 to 102 and Route 7 to 102. The area also has a large steel bridge across the marshes at the mouth of the Nerepis River. Also, a small mobile home park is located off Carriage House Lane in the northern stretch of Lingley.
Sagwa & Nerepis Station- Two very sparse communities stretching along the Nerepis River, as the Saint John River has dramatically turns towards the northeast. Sagwa is home to a small subdivision, and Nerepis is home to historic Mount Hope Farm. Nerepis Station, commonly called Nerepis is not to be confused with the separate community of Nerepis, which lies immediately to the east of this Nerepis, across the Brittain Road Bridge.

[edit] Parks

Grand Bay-Westfield has many parks, from simple greenspace to ballfields and playgrounds. They are listed below, in geographical order from south to north.

Henderson Brook Nature Park: A tiny, new park, Henderson Brook is a great place to watch beavers and birds. It is located on Shannon Road.
Southwood Park: playground at corner of Bayview Road and Cavalier Lane.
Inglewood School: playground and baseball diamond.
Grand Bay Primary School: playground and fieldspace.
Grand Bay Tennis Courts: corner of Inglewood Drive and Pamdenec Road.
Pamdenec Place: simple park setting accessible from Pamdenec Road and Frederick Street.
Lions Field: On Inglewood Drive near Broad Street, two ballfields and a playground.
Epworth Park Field: green space at corner of Central Avenue and Smith Lane.
River Valley Middle School: Baseball field, soccer field and football field.
Brookside Park: A small sitting area near the corner of Brookdale Avenue and Woolastook Drive.
Unity Park: Could be considered the town's commons, this park was created to symbolize the joining of the two communities. It is located next to Milligan Brook where the former boundary was (corner of Nerepis Road and Mullen Lane). The small stage is used in the summer for events every Wednesday, including children's nights, folk music, local talent, etc.
Westfield School: A large playground.
Brundage Point Trailhead/Westfield River Landing: Located at Ferry Road and Brundage Point Road, this area is currently under development.

[edit] Important Buildings

Government & Emergency Services

Town Hall (The Centrum)- 609 River Valley Drive
Fire Department #1- 615 River Valley Drive
Fire Department #2- 293 Nerepis Road
RCMP Office- 21 Chestnut Drive
Area office for the MLA and MP- 218 River Valley Drive
Post Office- 1 Woolastook Drive
Grand Bay Professional Centre- 227 River Valley Drive
Worker's Rehabilitation Centre- 3700 Westfield Road, Saint John (at the boundary)

Entertainment & Food

Noodles Bar- 109 River Valley Drive
Pizza Delight- 109 River Valley Drive
NBLC Liquor Store- 113 River Valley Drive
Dooly's Pool Hall- 3701 Westfield Road
Pizza Shack - 208 River Valley Drive
Aroma's Food Court (in Scholten's)- 217 River Valley Drive
Subway (in Blue Canoe)- 309 River Valley Drive
Westfield Country Store/Restaurant- 191 Nerepis Road

Shopping

Village Square- 267-279 River Valley Drive
Grand Bay Plaza- 3701 Westfield Road, Saint John (at the boundary)

Community Centres

River Valley Community Centre & Arena- 749 River Valley Drive
River Valley Lions Club- 27 Inglewood Drive
Bayview Branch Legion (#22)- 27 Woolastook Drive

Schools

Grand Bay Primary School (Grades K-2 English)- 92 Woolastook Drive
Inglewood School (Grades 3-5 English)- 10 School Street
Westfield Elementary School (K-5 English & French Immersion)- 147 Nerepis Road
River Valley Middle School(6-8 English & FI)- 33 Epworth Park Road
For high school students must to travel to Saint John to 1 of 3 schools.

[edit] See also

[edit] Important Buildings

Government & Emergerncy Services

Town Hall (The Centrum)- 609 River Valley Drive
Fire Department #1- 615 River Valley Drive
Fire Department #2- 293 Nerepis Road
RCMP Office- 21 Chestnut Drive
Area office for the MLA and MP- 218 River Valley Drive
Post Office- 1 Woolastook Drive
Grand Bay Professional Centre- 227 River Valley Drive
Worker's Rehabilitation Centre- 3700 Westfield Road, Saint John (at the boundary)

Entertainment & Food

Noodles Bar- 109 River Valley Drive
Pizza Delight- 109 River Valley Drive
NBLC Liquor Store- 113 River Valley Drive
Dooly's Pool Hall- 3701 Westfield Road
Pizza Shack - 208 River Valley Drive
Aroma's Food Court (in Scholten's)- 217 River Valley Drive
Subway (in Blue Canoe)- 309 River Valley Drive
Westfield Country Store/Restaurant- 191 Nerepis Road The Pumkin Patch-ice cream/fruits and vegetables-267 River Valley Drive(unit 2)

Shopping

Village Square- 267-279 River Valley Drive
Grand Bay Plaza- 3701 Westfield Road, Saint John (at the boundary) Community Centres

River Valley Community Centre & Arena- 749 River Valley Drive
River Valley Lions Club- 27 Inglewood Drive
Bayview Branch Legion (#22)- 27 Woolastook Drive

Schools

Grand Bay Primary School (Grades K-2 English)- 92 Woolastook Drive
Inglewood School (Grades 3-5 English)- 10 School Street
Westfield Elementary School (K-5 English & French Immersion)- 147 Nerepis Road
River Valley Middle School(6-8 English & FI)- 33 Epworth Park Road
For high school students must to travel to Saint John to 1 of 3 schools.