A photograph of a deck overlooking a stabilized shoreline

A photograph of a tall monument surrounded by a circular garden with pavers

Fort de La Présentation Site

Elevating Panoramic Views at Fort de La Présentation

Fort de La Présentation, a mission fort established in 1749, sits where the Oswegatchie River and the St. Lawrence River convene. Once owned by the British then turned over to the United States in 1796, the site has served many purposes over the years. The shores have experienced extensive erosion and flooding, and in 2021 was awarded $1.3 million to help restore its historic shorelines. LaBella Associates was selected as a trusted consultant to help bring this important landmark back to life.

Abbé Picquet Trail

Following a successful environmental cleanup program and acquisition by the Fort La Présentation Association, LaBella prepared a master plan for the historic site of Fort de La Présentation. The master plan contemplated construction of a replica fort on the 25.9-acre riverfront park site as the central feature for tourism, with a series of trails and park improvements providing enhanced physical access to the shorelines of the surrounding waterways, while maintaining access to a private lighthouse at the point of the peninsula.

Following endorsement of the master plan, the Association secured additional funding for the development of construction drawings and construction of the Abbé Picquet Memorial Trail and enhancements to the Abbé Picquet Memorial Obelisk. The initial improvements for the park included serpentine pathways and trails, community garden relocation, a peace garden at the Memorial Obelisk, visitor parking and drop-off areas, viewing nodes, interpretative/wayfinding signage, and significant landscape restoration. Following completion of design, LaBella performed construction administration services for the project, which was funded primarily by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP).

A graphical rendering of a park surrounded by water on three sides with various proposed improvements identified

Shoreline Stabilization

Due to proximity to the waterways, extensive erosion and flooding occurred over several years. Stabilization on both sides of the site was required to protect the riverbanks and preserve the site’s long-term use. The Association was thrilled to receive a Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) grant to install shoreline stabilization and trail improvements at the site.

LaBella prepared an Engineer’s Report, which provided existing conditions of the site, permitting requirements, recommendations for betterment, and an analysis of alternative improvements. The recommended solution for flood mitigation, trail preservation, and shoreline stabilization features an engineered design that accommodates fluctuations between low- and high-water marks along each shoreline. It enhances resiliency while maintaining the area’s aesthetics and historical and cultural value. The design also improves plant species habitats, strengthens coastal stability, and enhances the trail and overlook viewpoints.

The recommended actions included:

Raising the existing trails within flood-prone areas above the Flood Zone A elevation, which increased resiliency of the site and decreased annual maintenance.
Installing a berm along the St. Lawrence River to reduce flooding impacts
Shoreline improvements along 750+/- linear feet of the Oswegatchie riverbank, including riprap with live stake plantings and toe wood/toe rock installations.
Shoreline improvements along 670+/- linear feet of the St. Lawrence riverbank, including stone sill installation and riprap along with reconstruction of the trails.

Working with multiple state and federal agencies, LaBella completed permitting and coastal zone consistency reviews, allowing this NYS OPRHP-administered project to be one of the first REDI projects to advance to construction within the Lake Ontario watershed.

A Pavilion With Panoramic Views

Following the installation of a new prefabricated Corten steel pedestrian bridge linking Lookout Point to the Abbé Piquet Trail, the Association set their sights on completing a trail connection to the northern-most area of the site. They envisioned a structured location where park patrons could enjoy a unique perspective of the seaway with panoramic views of the Canadian shoreline.

With a modest budget and short timeline, the Association challenged the design team to deliver a solution which was cost-effective, fit within the narrow profile of the peninsula, could withstand the harsh weather and water exposure, and be built with labor and equipment that could traverse only a pedestrian bridge—all without sacrificing the desired aesthetics.

The selected design was an open gabled timber structure, with decorative railings and bracing, located along a centered sight line from the pedestrian bridge with a bordered landscape separating the pavilion from the bypassing Lookout Point pathway. With winter weather approaching, the site preparation, structural pad, pavilion, pathway, and landscaping were constructed on budget within a 30-day period.

This important milestone was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting on November 10, 2025!