Town of St. Andrews Mayor Brad Henderson says he is very positive about the future of Katy's Cove, a historic saltwater beach area in the town where the water is often over 27 degrees in summertime thanks to a gate system that isolates the water in the cove from the ocean. The cove is currently owned by the Algonquin Hotel but leased to a nonprofit committee called Katy's Cove Inc in the community that is fundraising to restore the cove to its early to late 20th century glory when it was frequented by tourists and locals alike.

"Many people have fond memories of the cove, and Katy's Cove Inc has done a tremendous job fundraising to restore the cove. They have also made many updates to the beach and playground area in recent years," says Henderson.

Katy’s Cove Inc has made a series of improvements over the last two years and is planning to put washroom facilities in at Katy’s Cove this spring/summer with approximately $80,000 the group has fundraised for the building project. Problematically, a large part of the cost in installing washrooms at Katy’s Cove will need to go towards bringing in water and sewer services to the Katy’s Cove site, which is estimated by CBCL Engineering to be about $125,000. 

Katy's Cove Inc has asked the town to town provide the water and sewer services to Katy’s Cove. While council agreed that the work of Katy's Cove Inc is important and beneficial to the town, they agreed spending money on the cove while it is still the property of the Algonquin Hotel (despite Katy's Cove Inc having a longterm lease of the cove) would not suit them in the long run. They agreed to establish better communications with Katy's Inc and the Algonquin Hotel to perhaps work towards a purchase agreement that could better suit joint efforts of the community to improve the cove.

"I look forward to sitting down with Katy's Cove Inc and the Algonquin to find a path forward," said Henderson.