Connecting Past and Present
The History of the Baysville Horticultural Society/Riverfront Group
Continuing the Riverfront Legacy
In 2025, the Baysville Horticultural Society proudly assumed stewardship of the former Baysville Riverfront Group website, ensuring that the history, spirit, and accomplishments of the Riverfront volunteers remain accessible to the community. For more than two decades, the Riverfront Group played a vital role in enhancing Baysville’s waterfront, creating welcoming public spaces and fostering a strong sense of local pride. Preserving that story matters, and this transition allows it to continue.
Under the care of the Baysville Horticultural Society, the website now carries forward both the Riverfront history and the community-building work it inspired. The Society will continue supporting initiatives that celebrate Baysville’s natural beauty and creative spirit, including the beloved Baysville Arts & Craft Festival and other arts and culture events along the riverfront. This is not an ending, it is a passing of the torch, with the same community heart guiding the way forward.
Revitalizing Baysville:
Birth of the Riverfront Project
In 1999, the Baysville Community Plan was published, playing a key role in uniting community organizations to decide on a Millennium 2000 Project.
The development of the south Muskoka Riverfront in Baysville was identified as an opportunity to enrich and beautify our community. The Riverfront Group emerged from this moment and initiated the Baysville Riverfront Project. Our goals were to revitalise the river’s edge to access Baysville using docking and walkways. Many residents volunteered in a barn-raising effort that constructed the dock and retaining wall.
Placemaking at the River’s Edge
Placemaking inspires people to collectively reimagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of a community. Our mission is to enliven the beauty of Baysville starting from the river’s edge. We first renewed the riparian zone, building a pathway, retaining walls, increasing the dock access that borders our parkland to reimagine it as a vibrant and welcoming space. Seasonal residents come together in the company of locals.
Our projects are made possible through annual fundraising programs, donation, and public grants.
Placemaking does so much more than just renovate our parklands. The proceeds from a range of social gatherings we operate make significant contributions to the curling rink, the renovation of the community centre, and food bank. The group also distributes financial support to a number of local partners, including the Horticultural Society, the Fire Station, and the Library.
Community-based participation is at our centre. So contact us if you have ideas, assets or energy to contribute to our mission.
Momentum Keeps Building
Following the Millennium Project, smaller docks with floating sections were added to the riverfront, completing the access to the town of Baysville from the south branch of the Muskoka River. The Lookout and Gazebo were also integrated into the walkway by the dam and the brick walkway along Dickie Street was completed. Also, our cemeteries boast newly imagined entrances to grounds that show our respect.
And with the announcement of the community improvement plan, we anticipate new corners of the town plan may call out for new ideas.