City of Ottawa opens storefront on Sparks Street to engage with public

By Mike Vlasveld

The City of Ottawa is opening its own storefront workspace on Sparks Street, with the hope of creating more dialogue about the future of the pedestrian mall.

The storefront displays information about preliminary recommendations that will be considered in the next phase of the city's plan to renew the street. 

Feedback gathered from the public will help with the development of that plan.

The city said the plan will set guidelines for design, programming, beautification and operational standards. 

City staff will host collaboration sessions with stakeholders at the new storefront at 79 Sparks St.

The public is invited to visit the storefront, talk to city staff and provide feedback during the following times:

– Wednesday, July 18 between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
– Thursday, July 19 between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
– Saturday, July 21 between 12p.m. and 3 p.m.
– Thursday, July 26 between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. 
 
Online public engagement opportunities will also be available until early 2019.

Over the summer, the city added that new public spaces called SparksScape spots will be piloted along the pedestrian mall. These will provide spaces for residents and visitors to lounge, read and enjoy the space. 

To enhance the pedestrian experience and reduce access by cars and trucks on Sparks Street, the city is also piloting bollards at access points to the pedestrian mall. 

These projects are based on initial feedback that the pedestrian nature of Sparks Street is one of its most beloved qualities. 

Mayor Jim Watson was joined Wednesday by Councillor Catherine McKenney, Nathalie Laliberté, Director General of Program, Portfolio and Client Relationship Management at Public Services and Procurement Canada's Parliamentary Precinct Branch, and Dr. Mark Kristmanson, CEO of the National Capital Commission, to open the storefront workspace and tour the recently opened SparksScape spots.

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