Mayor and Guests Open Legacy Beacon, Unveil Streetcar No. 351 and Michael D. Hurst Legacy Park

Mayor Drew Dilkens, members of City Council, and special guests gathered at Windsor’s waterfront today for the grand opening of the Legacy Beacon, unveiling of Streetcar No. 351 and the corresponding historical exhibition, and to announce the official naming of Michael D. Hurst Legacy Park. 

The event kicked off a four-day opening celebration for Windsor’s newest waterfront gathering space, which was created to house the restored Streetcar No. 351 as the focal point for one of five beacons planned for the riverfront and envisioned in the Windsor Central Riverfront Implementation Plan (CRIP) that was approved in 2000. The celebration included the reveal of the 2025 Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island Visitor Guide, which features a cover photo of Streetcar No. 351. Opening weekend programming takes place from Thursday, April 24, through Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the Legacy Beacon, 780 Riverside Drive West, and includes the following:

• 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily: Museum Windsor staff on site for informative tours of Streetcar No. 351 and the historical exhibition, info, souvenirs and crafts
• 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily: concession vendor and patio open for business 
• 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily: self-guided tours of Streetcar No. 351, live music from local entertainers, and more 
• 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: family entertainment concerts for all ages. 

About Windsor’s Historic Streetcar No. 351

U.S. and Canadian cities built between 1880 and 1945 were streetcar cities. The first streetcar company in Windsor, the Sandwich and Windsor Passenger Railway, was essentially a horse-drawn service along what is now University Avenue, starting in 1874. That evolved into the SW&A (Sandwich, Windsor and Amherstburg Railway), which in 1891 began electric service, though the first electric streetcar in Canada was operated by the Windsor Electric Railway in 1886. SW&A would go on to become Transit Windsor in the 1970s. Electric streetcars ran on Tecumseh Road, Wyandotte Street, Ouellette Avenue, Parent Avenue, College Avenue, Lincoln Road, Seminole Street, and Erie Street, as well as the Sandwich line that ran down University Avenue. 

Streetcar No. 351 is an important artifact in the story of Windsor’s transportation history. Built in 1918 by the Cincinnati Car Company, the streetcar is 50 feet long and weighs just over 24,000 pounds. It is believed that Cars 351 to 354 were purchased by SW&A as used vehicles around 1926 to 1927 from Public Service of New Jersey. The last streetcars stopped running in Windsor on May 7, 1939. They were sold off, with some cars moved to areas near the water and used as cottages. Local railway historian Bernie Drouillard discovered Streetcar No. 351 in Belle River, with a cottage built around it, nearly two decades ago. Local businessmen Van Niforos and the late George Sofos purchased the dusty hulk composed of rotting wood panels and rusted steel, with plans to restore it and make it a feature attraction at a restaurant they were planning for University Avenue West. 

In 2017, the city of Windsor’s 125th anniversary year, and during construction of the Sandwich Town roundabout, contractors uncovered old streetcar tracks, prompting Mayor Dilkens to have a few sections set aside. With a vision taking shape, he met with Niforos and Sofos to discuss their acquired streetcar and the possibility of finding a way to honour Windsor’s history as the first Canadian community with electric streetcars. The businessmen agreed to donate the streetcar to the City. That same year, City Council approved accepting the donation of the streetcar and moving forward with its restoration, which was carried out by RM Auto Restoration. City Council, project partners and the public saw the value in the vision that developed for Streetcar No. 351. Following a public open house and city-wide survey, Council approved a recommendation that, pending restoration, Streetcar No. 351 would make its final home in a new riverfront gathering space, complete with a viewing platform, patio, food and beverage services, restrooms, and a facility to house the streetcar. The corresponding historical exhibition, designed and installed by Chris Renaud and HCA Mindbox, in partnership with Museum Windsor, responsible for the research and writing, is a permanent feature of the site.

About the Legacy Beacon

Windsor’s Central Riverfront Implementation Plan is an overall master plan for the development of the community’s waterfront. As such, it provides design and high-level guidance for the ongoing development of the riverfront, including the construction of five beacons across the area. The intent of the planned waterfront beacons is that they act as points of interest and attraction along the over six-kilometre stretch that offers a continuous multi-use trail, public art installations, playgrounds, site-seeing areas, and more while providing appropriate services for the public as they make use of the riverfront and its amenities.

In the year’s following approval of the Streetcar No. 351 project, Council identified the riverfront Legacy Park as the ideal location for the streetcar. The park is situated adjacent to the historic railway tunnel and original station tower entrance. It is the third of five destinations and landmarks along the Detroit River that will explore themes of integration of landscape and building, local history and stories, ecology, and sustainable development. 

The $10.3 million project is part of the City’s 10-year capital plan which invests more than $186.2 million in City parks and recreation across the community. This project also ties in to the Strengthen the Core: Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan, and the Windsor Works economic development strategy by investing in the creation of a vibrant district and in waterfront infrastructure and amenities to attract and support the evolving community. Alongside the Civic Esplanade and ice rink at City Hall, the Legacy Beacon is one of many initiatives that support economic development in Windsor’s downtown core and across the city while creating jobs, engagement opportunities, and positive spinoff impacts for businesses, as well as the tourism and hospitality sectors. 

About Michael D. Hurst Legacy Park

During an in-camera meeting in 2023, and as part of the Legacy Beacon project, City Council approved naming the new site the Michael D. Hurst Legacy Park, in honour of the former Windsor mayor who served from 1992 to 2003. Windsor’s riverfront was once a thriving railway connection for industry. The naming of this site recognizes Hurst’s legacy and the significant role he played in the assembling, development, completion, preservation, planning, and programming of the then 4.7-kilometre uninterrupted stretch of riverfront parkland from the Ambassador Bridge to the Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. Distillery. Over the years, the riverfront has undergone a metamorphosis to become an over six-kilometre stretch of greenspace, several city parks and gardens, play areas, outdoor public art, monuments and memorials, the Great Canadian Flag, and many additional opportunities for public gathering and engagement. Much of that progress can be tied back to Hurst’s vision for the waterfront.  

Hurst entered civic politics in 1987, serving on City Council before he successfully ran for the mayor’s seat in 1991. He served as mayor for four three-year terms, with local media often referring to him as the most influential citizen in the city at the time. After leaving office, he chaired the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership and was later named Justice of the Peace in Windsor’s Provincial Court. When Hurst received the prestigious Negev Award in 1998 from the Jewish National Fund of Canada, many politicians, community leaders, stakeholders, and colleagues took the opportunity to share their thoughts on his accomplishments, affiliations, community impact, and time as mayor. Former Canadian Prime Minister (1993 to 2003) Jean Chrétien said, “Over the years, you have demonstrated an unflagging contribution to the community of Windsor… Through your love of community, you have made an important contribution to your city and to Canada. I am sure that your example serves as an inspiration to us all, and this tribute reflects indeed the high esteem in which you are held by your fellow citizens. Your good will and dedication to the betterment of society are recognized and deeply appreciated by all those who value community service.”

The Michael D. Hurst Legacy Park includes an interpretive panel highlighting Michael D. Hurst’s accomplishments over the years, including during his time as Windsor’s mayor.

Quotes:

“I am quite impressed with how the Legacy Beacon and Streetcar No. 351 have taken shape at Windsor’s waterfront. The riverfront is our best natural feature, and this level of investment in activating new spaces, attracting residents and visitors, and creating a real destination point is going to have positive impacts across the community. Windsor was home to Canada’s first electric streetcar system back in 1886. Streetcar No. 351 is a unique artifact from Windsor’s past – important because it is truly authentic to the city’s history. I asked City Council to name the park in honour of former Windsor Mayor Michael D. Hurst, whose vision for the waterfront helped to inspire and shape this investment in the parkland that houses this beacon and others to come. Sincere thanks go out to the sponsors, donors, partners, and City staff who helped to bring this vision to life. The Legacy Beacon will be the best place to go and enjoy great food and beverages; a beautiful 10,000-square-foot patio; and unforgettable views — at water level and from the new viewing platform — of Windsor, Detroit, and the river that unites us. As we continue Building Windsor’s Future with a focus on investment, growth, and sustainability, I’m excited for folks to see what we’ve created at this site, with this beacon, and with historic Streetcar No. 351.” - Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens

“My time in the mayor’s chair at the City of Windsor was, in part, dedicated to realizing the incredible potential of our community’s precious waterfront lands. I am proud to see the progress over the years, and the present-day level of investment made towards preserving and activating our riverfront gem. This recognition by Mayor Drew Dilkens, City Council, and the City of Windsor means a great deal to me and to my family. It is an honour to see this park named to recognize work that mattered to me when I served, and that still matters to me today. I know that countless families, residents and visitors to Windsor will create lasting memories at this exciting new site along the shores of the Detroit River.” - Former Windsor Mayor Michael D. Hurst

“I am so proud to be part of this special event to showcase Streetcar No. 351, and to have played a part in writing its next chapter. When John Stefani and I set out to locate a streetcar nearly twenty years ago, we knew it would be difficult to find, and we knew what an important mission we had undertaken. We spent a month searching for the streetcar every weekend. We were given many addresses, and none of them yielded results. When we pulled into that Belle River driveway, and I exclaimed, ‘We found it!’, I had no idea what an amazing future was in store for this artifact from Windsor’s storied past. From early plans by Mr. Sofos and Mr. Niforos, through a world-class restoration process, and a fantastic vision from Mayor Dilkens and the City’s partners – it has all led to this important day. Streetcar No. 351 is the only remaining car of the SW&A cars that ran here. I’m so thankful that people will get the opportunity to see this and to be part of this.” - Bernie Drouillard, Local Railway Historian

“As always, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island is committed to standing out in the competitive tourism industry, working to attract visitors from across Canada and around the globe to experience all that our region has to offer. This year’s Official Visitor Guide helps achieve those goals. The bright and colourful cover, with its fantastic image of Windsor’s newly restored Streetcar No. 351, will pop on display racks and invites users to read more about the unique experiences and attractions that shape and define Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island. We’re excited to be launching our guide during the grand opening of the Legacy Beacon on Windsor’s waterfront as we head into our annual Staycation Expo in partnership with Devonshire Mall, April 25 to 26, 2025. These events highlight the importance of tourism as an industry and showcase how our WE GO Together message continues to resonate with residents and visitors in Windsor-Essex. Now more than ever, visitors are craving authentically Canadian trips that are easy to plan and offer lots to experience and enjoy, and this year’s guide provides all of that and more by profiling experiences, highlighting easy-to-download itineraries, and featuring more than 260 business and attractions to consider visiting this year.”  - Gordon Orr, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island

For full event details of the Legacy Beacon and Streetcar No. 351, visit www.CityWindsor.ca.