The Parkdale Avenue Corridor Plan prepared by a team from McGill University’s School of Urban Planning, identifies 34 actions to be taken in support of 8 principles of good planning.  In order to get the community discussion going, here are seven possible projects from the full list that could offer a starting point for changing the way people experience Parkdale Avenue:

PROJECT 1: Prohibit Parkdale truck traffic: improve signage and enforcement related to no trucking rules along Parkdale (Parkdale Plan Principle #7. Discourage automobile dominance on the street)

PROJECT 2: Encourage the BIA to promote Parkdale Avenue: Treat Parkdale as an important gateway to Wellington Street West businesses. (Parkdale Plan Principle #4. Promote local businesses and artists.)

PROJECT 3: Create identity by celebrating the area’s shared history: Signage placed throughout the corridor; Banners placed along the street (Parkdale Plan Principle #5. Promote development that maintains the area’s character)

PROJECT 4: Enhance the Queensway underpass: install attractive murals or mosaics to enliven the walls of the underpass; pedestrian advance signals, textured cross-walks, and enhanced lighting along the underpass; Refinish the façade of the overpass facing Parkdale. (Parkdale Plan Principle #1. Create an attractive and enjoyable street experience)

PROJECT 5: Enhance the pedestrian experience along Parkdale: Widen the sidewalks, provide more tree cover, and introduce public art. (Parkdale Plan Principle #1. Create an attractive and enjoyable street experience)  PROJECT 6: Support Cycling along Parkdale: Connect the Ottawa River recreational pathway to Wellington Street West with a bike path; Extend the NCC Sunday Bikedays from the Ottawa River Parkway along Parkdale to Wellington (in conjunction with the Preston Street BIA). (Parkdale Plan Principle #6. Promote and support sustainable modes of transportation)

PROJECT 7: Create strong links between the Parkdale, the Experimental Farm and the River: Transform the entrance to the Experimental Farm into a landmark; Create a public place where Parkdale meets the river  (Parkdale Plan Principle #3. Increase and enhance green space)

Friend of Parkdale - Michel Frojmovic

It’s got a farm at one end and a gorgeous stretch of riverbank at the other, and a name containing the work “park”. With those kind of credentials first-time visitors to Ottawa might be excused for expecting Parkdale Avenue to be a meandering lane through a shady glade, and not a fume-filled arterial road functioning as an on-ramp to the busiest stretch of expressway in Eastern Ontario.

But even long-time Ottawans are taken aback at just how many functions the City of Ottawa and the Ministry of Transportation expect a narrow neighbourhood two-lane street to fulfill. It’s a passage for emergency vehicles, a bus route, a commuter thoroughfare for thousands driving to Tunney’s Pasture and the Civic Hospital, and a local street for homeowners whose driveways give out onto the avenue…( read full post at Spacing Ottawa)

In 2009, Creative Neighbourhoods engaged a team of Urban Planning students from McGill University to produce a plan for Parkdale Avenue. The Parkdale Avenue Corridor Plan identifies long-, medium – and short-term opportunities & actions, relating to local issues such as land use, streetscaping, traffic management, and air quality monitoring.

With your input, a draft Plan was prepared and presented in December at Parkdale United Church, and finalized by the McGill Team shortly thereafter.

Where do we go from here? Well, it is an election year in 2010. So…

Your active involvement is needed to achieve the following:

1. Review the report and presentation to identify some of our favourite projects
2. Deliver a short presentation to the City Councillor, the BIA and the local community associations to encourage the implementation of these projects
3. Support ongoing communication among the Friends of Parkdale Avenue, by means of existing online social media, or a new Friends of Parkdale Blog

The Full Report, a Project Presentation and Project Presentation Boards are all posted here.

This web site also contains final reports and presentations of three earlierCreative Neighbourhoods/McGill School of Urban Planning projects in Hintonburg:

Fall 2008: Urban Greenspace Reclamation Concept

This project consisted of the creation of an inter-institutional green spacereclamation concept plan for an inner block greenspace in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood. Specifically, the mandate involved configuring thephysical design of the greenspace, as well as the challenges of increasingaccessibility to a private space, dealing with security and safety within the space, and ensuring a harmonious co-habitation for all potential users.

In addition, the concept plan will addressed short, medium, and long-termoperation, maintenance, funding, and management schemes.

Fall 2007: Streetscape and Façade Design Guidelines for Wellington Street West

During the fall of 2007 Creative Neighbourhoods, in conjunction with a teamof Urban Planning students from McGill University and the Wellington Street West Business Improvement Area (B.I.A.) Steering Committee, set out to determine how property and business owners along the Wellington Street West corridor can make a positive impact on their neighbourhood through small scale streetscape and building façade design.

Fall 2006: Investigation into a GIS-based Community Monitoring System for the Wellington West Mainstreet District

In an effort to support local planning Creative Neighbourhoods (inconjunction with a team of Urban Planning students from McGill University)researched and proposed a GIS-based Community Monitoring System as a useful tool to facilitate communication between citizens and policy makers and to encourage local participation in the community’s development.

Yours sincerely,

Michel Frojmovic MCIP RPP President, Creative Neighbourhoods and Director, Acacia Consulting & Research

430 Parkdale Avenue,Ottawa ON K1Y 1H1