Peggy’s Cove is one of Nova Scotia’s most iconic attractions. The unique coastal experience receives national and international recognition and high levels of visitation. With expansive granite rocks, bold coastline, crashing waves, and a historic lighthouse—Peggy’s Cove exemplifies the quintessential Nova Scotia that visitors love, and residents cherish. It is also a living community, an active fishing village, and home to year-round residents.
The Peggy’s Cove Master Plan Project began through the Tourism Nova Scotia’s Tourism Revitalization of Icons Program (TRIP), an infrastructure funding program focused on revitalizing Nova Scotia’s most competitive tourism icons.
Build Nova Scotia has been working with the community of Peggy’s Cove to create a comprehensive master planning and design process for the community. Given the Cove’s unique identity as both tourism icon and living community, and the significant challenges caused by its popularity, this work is focused on balancing a number of important priorities:
• Ensuring the continued liveability of the community alongside tourism activity
• Creating a safe, accessible, and engaging experience for locals, visitors, and business operators
• Protecting the community from the impacts of climate change and sea level rise
• Protecting the icon’s value and the direct and indirect value that it generates for the province
While the challenges facing the Cove are not new, there is significant urgency as the quality of life for residents is decreasing, the impacts of climate change are steadily increasing, and while visitor numbers are up, visitor satisfaction is decreasing overall.
The Accessible Viewing Deck is a key piece of the master plan focused on creating a safe and accessible visitor experience. The design has been developed in close collaboration with the community and the work is being led by Develop Nova Scotia and is funded by Tourism Nova Scotia’s Tourism Revitalization of Icons Program (TRIP), the Province of Nova Scotia, and ACOA.
The viewing deck and railings will be made of wood and steel, materials that will last and complementary to the rugged terrain The rail guard will be steel knit pattern that resembles fish net. It will be set into the landscape and take the shape of the rock so as to avoid overshadowing the real attraction at Peggy’s Cove, the landscape and lighthouse. Lighting is subtle and focused on safety, placed with the handrail or wheel guards, so as not to detract from the landscape and lighthouse at night.
It will be a public space where people can view the lighthouse and experience the waves and rocks in a way that is fully accessible and provides a safer viewing option for all. Other related improvements include public washrooms and improvements to trail connections that lead to the lighthouse and nearby parking area.