Welcome to the City of Edmonton Downtown Newsletter. This is the spot where communities come together to celebrate, learn, share and create unforgettable memories – all against the background of our ever-evolving Downtown. Thank you for your interest and passion for building a vibrant Downtown.
Update: We're pleased to announce that we’ve updated our format slightly and will now deliver our newsletter four times a year. This will ensure you’re getting quality coverage you’ve come to expect in a jam-packed quarterly issue that won’t overwhelm your inbox.
Get to know our Downtown Public Places Plan
Edmonton's Downtown is transforming! New investments and projects are attracting more people to live, work and visit the core of our city every day. And as the Downtown grows, it’s more important than ever to consider the public spaces and places.
We chatted with Paul Giang, a City of Edmonton planner, to talk about a new Downtown Public Places Plan that’s underway.
What is the Downtown Public Places Plan and why is it important?
Paul: The plan, which we just started working on, takes a look at public places to make sure we meet the needs of current and future residents, workers and visitors in our Downtown. Public places includes everything from parks to plazas to privately owned public spaces and are critically important to developing a vibrant Downtown.
They provide spaces to socialize, hold events, and generally support the wellness of a community.
What will the plan do?
Paul: The intention is to come up with a plan that looks at the entire Downtown, including how to improve what we already have, where we might need to invest in new spaces, and how to better design and create program for spaces.
How can people get involved?
Paul: Public engagement will be a big part of the project. We want to hear from people on how they think public places can create a comfortable, memorable, and attractive Downtown. Our next drop in event is on March 8 from 4 to 7 pm at Enterprise Square (10230 Jasper Avenue). If you can't make it to the event, we also have an online survey running until March 28.
You can find out more about the Downtown Public Places Plan, including details on the public engagement opportunities, at edmonton.ca/downtownpublicplaces.
Spotlight: Parks and Public Places
As the work on the Downtown Public Places Plan continues, we take a look at just a few of the existing and planned parks and public places located in the heart of of our city!
Alex Decoteau Park: Last year, the City took another step towards creating great public spaces in the downtown by converting a parking lot into a community park, including a fenced off area for our four-legged friends.
Warehouse Campus Neighbourhood Central Park: The City is in the process of acquiring additional land for park development Downtown, in the area north of Jasper around 106 and 107 Streets.
100 Street Funicular: In addition to the wide staircase and funicular, this new attraction has several great lookout points, including a viewing platform over the North Saskatchewan River.
Civic Precinct: The Edmonton Civic Precinct (Sir Winston Churchill Square, Centennial Plaza south of the Stanley A. Milner Library and the City Hall Plaza) is a safe, family-friendly, vibrant and lively urban plaza in the heart of Edmonton's Downtown.
Kinistinâw Park: As part of The Quarters Downtown redevelopment, the City of Edmonton is working on a new park for the Quarters area called Kinistinâw Park.
March Feature Event: Get involved in GLOW!
Taking place in the Quarters, GLOW is an illuminated night parade featuring enormous animated lanterns that are handmade by the community.
The theme this year is “Migration” and the lantern floats will be based on the wild flora and fauna observed in the neighbourhood.
Lantern-making workshops have already started, and the Walking Lantern Parade will take place March 24. Find out more about this unique community celebration!
The event is organized by Quarters Arts –
a non-profit society helping to build a vibrant neighbourhood for the arts by engaging people through citizen-led arts projects and programs and honouring the heritage and diversity of the community they serve.
Photo Credit: Jessica Fern Facette Photography.
Current traffic disruptions
These are some of the roadways that will be impacted by closures in coming weeks.
Belgravia Road EB, 122 Street to Fox Drive, reduced to one lane until March 9.
Connors Rd. NB, 95 Ave. to Scona Rd., closed Mar 23 at 7pm for 3 weeks. Use 85 St., 75 St. or 50 St.
Grierson Hill, 95A St. to McDougall Hill, closed Mar 9 at 9 am to Mar 11 at 12pm for special event. Use McDougall Hill or Bellamy Hill.
99 St., 102 Ave. to 102A Ave. (and west sidewalk) closed until late April. Use 97 St. or 100 St.
Long-term roadway impacts:
105 St. NB to 100 Av WB, double left turn closure until late August. Left curb lane closed North of 99 Ave. Use 109 St. or Bellamy Hill.
103 Ave., 102 St. to 104 St., reduced to one lane in each direction until late December.
102 Ave., 96 St. to 103 St., closed for two years. Cross-traffic at 97 St., 100 St., 101 St. & 103 St. will be maintained. Use Jasper Ave. or 103A Ave.
Traffic impacts and timelines are subject to frequent and sudden changes. The Current Traffic Disruptions Map is updated every 15 minutes and includes collisions, construction, event detours and emergency closures.
