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Project Overview
The City of Ottawa has initiated a Public Realm Plan and Functional Design Study for Centrum Boulevard. The project will take place from Place d’Orléans Drive to Brisebois Crescent (eastern most intersection), and Prestone Drive from Centrum Boulevard to Saint. Joseph Boulevard, as shown in the map below. The intersections at Place d’Orléans Drive and Saint. Joseph Boulevard are excluded from the study area. The project is entirely within Ward 1 – Orléans East–Cumberland.
Centrum Boulevard functions as the civic and cultural spine of the Orléans Town Centre, accommodating major community destinations, institutions, commercial uses, and existing and planned residential and mixed‑use developments.
Originally designed in the 1990s as an integrated town centre boulevard, the corridor emphasized a seamless transition between the public and private realms through coordinated paving, landscape treatments and public spaces.
Key destinations in the area include the Shenkman Arts Centre, Peter D. Clark Place, and the Orléans Town Centre Mall. Many events and festivals are also hosted on Centrum Boulevard, drawing large crowds at different times during the day and evening.
Now approaching the end of its lifecycle, much of the surface infrastructure on the streets and sidewalks are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and needs replacement. In other words, Centrum Boulevard and Prestone Drive are in need of a renewal.
The Centrum Boulevard Public Realm Plan aims to:
Create a renewed vision for the public right-of-way along Centrum Boulevard and Prestone Drive that strengthens the area’s identity and sense of place
Review the design and location of public and private gathering spaces to support year-round use, community events, and cultural activities
Identify opportunities for pedestrian amenities such as seating, shade, lighting, and public art
Create safer and more accessible connections for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and motorists
Explore ways to enhance greenery along the corridor through street trees, landscaping, and planters
Provide guidance for adjacent private property owners on how public realm and streetscape improvements could extend onto private properties
Consider long-term durability, maintenance, and operational requirements in all design recommendations
The intent of this renewal project is to improve the visitor experience by updating the overall character and amenities of the street. Resulting in an attractive, safe, inclusive, and sustainable corridor for the community, visitors, and residents.
Project Overview
The City of Ottawa has initiated a Public Realm Plan and Functional Design Study for Centrum Boulevard. The project will take place from Place d’Orléans Drive to Brisebois Crescent (eastern most intersection), and Prestone Drive from Centrum Boulevard to Saint. Joseph Boulevard, as shown in the map below. The intersections at Place d’Orléans Drive and Saint. Joseph Boulevard are excluded from the study area. The project is entirely within Ward 1 – Orléans East–Cumberland.
Centrum Boulevard functions as the civic and cultural spine of the Orléans Town Centre, accommodating major community destinations, institutions, commercial uses, and existing and planned residential and mixed‑use developments.
Originally designed in the 1990s as an integrated town centre boulevard, the corridor emphasized a seamless transition between the public and private realms through coordinated paving, landscape treatments and public spaces.
Key destinations in the area include the Shenkman Arts Centre, Peter D. Clark Place, and the Orléans Town Centre Mall. Many events and festivals are also hosted on Centrum Boulevard, drawing large crowds at different times during the day and evening.
Now approaching the end of its lifecycle, much of the surface infrastructure on the streets and sidewalks are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and needs replacement. In other words, Centrum Boulevard and Prestone Drive are in need of a renewal.
The Centrum Boulevard Public Realm Plan aims to:
Create a renewed vision for the public right-of-way along Centrum Boulevard and Prestone Drive that strengthens the area’s identity and sense of place
Review the design and location of public and private gathering spaces to support year-round use, community events, and cultural activities
Identify opportunities for pedestrian amenities such as seating, shade, lighting, and public art
Create safer and more accessible connections for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and motorists
Explore ways to enhance greenery along the corridor through street trees, landscaping, and planters
Provide guidance for adjacent private property owners on how public realm and streetscape improvements could extend onto private properties
Consider long-term durability, maintenance, and operational requirements in all design recommendations
The intent of this renewal project is to improve the visitor experience by updating the overall character and amenities of the street. Resulting in an attractive, safe, inclusive, and sustainable corridor for the community, visitors, and residents.
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A draft design for the Centrum Boulevard Public Realm Plan has been prepared. Some highlights of the proposed plan include:
Increasing the number of trees and planting pits to soften the space and provide shade
More seating opportunities, with trees proving shade where possible
Exploring options to facilitate road closures for events between Prestone Drive and the crosswalk outside the Shenkman Arts Centre
Concrete sidewalks to address accessibility and maintenance concerns, with unit pavers or coloured concrete accents for visual interest
Identifying locations for public art installations
Parallel parking to create more space for pedestrians and greenery and improve road safety for all users
Shared travel lanes for bicycles, personal vehicles and buses
Streets designed for slow vehicularly speeds at 30 kilometres per hour
A large central plaza is also proposed as part of the design. The plaza would be a flexible event space intended to host festivals and gatherings of different sizes. The space would be visually distinguished from the surrounding area, to indicate it as a special place for people to gather.
Much of the proposed plaza space is located on private property, so full implementation would require collaboration with private property owners. Design elements of the plaza may include:
Water features for cooling and visual interest
Minimal trees and visual obstructions to maintain clear views of stages set up for events
Curb less streets and specialty paving surfaces, such as unit pavers, to help identify the area as a pedestrian space during road closures
A draft design for the Centrum Boulevard Public Realm Plan has been prepared. Some highlights of the proposed plan include:
Increasing the number of trees and planting pits to soften the space and provide shade
More seating opportunities, with trees proving shade where possible
Exploring options to facilitate road closures for events between Prestone Drive and the crosswalk outside the Shenkman Arts Centre
Concrete sidewalks to address accessibility and maintenance concerns, with unit pavers or coloured concrete accents for visual interest
Identifying locations for public art installations
Parallel parking to create more space for pedestrians and greenery and improve road safety for all users
Shared travel lanes for bicycles, personal vehicles and buses
Streets designed for slow vehicularly speeds at 30 kilometres per hour
A large central plaza is also proposed as part of the design. The plaza would be a flexible event space intended to host festivals and gatherings of different sizes. The space would be visually distinguished from the surrounding area, to indicate it as a special place for people to gather.
Much of the proposed plaza space is located on private property, so full implementation would require collaboration with private property owners. Design elements of the plaza may include:
Water features for cooling and visual interest
Minimal trees and visual obstructions to maintain clear views of stages set up for events
Curb less streets and specialty paving surfaces, such as unit pavers, to help identify the area as a pedestrian space during road closures
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Wednesday, August 19 at 7pm
Interested members of the public are invited to attend an online public consultation session on Wednesday, August 19 at 7pm.We welcome your thoughts on the proposed project elements, as your input will help guide the next stages of the project. This virtual engagement opportunity will include a review of the draft plans and recommendations along with a question-and-answer period.
Please registerto receive the link for the online session. At the session, the City will present the Centrum Boulevard Public Realm plan and take questions from the public.
Accessibility is an important consideration for the City of Ottawa. If you require special accommodation, please contact theProject Manager to provide your feedback.
Wednesday, August 19 at 7pm
Interested members of the public are invited to attend an online public consultation session on Wednesday, August 19 at 7pm.We welcome your thoughts on the proposed project elements, as your input will help guide the next stages of the project. This virtual engagement opportunity will include a review of the draft plans and recommendations along with a question-and-answer period.
Please registerto receive the link for the online session. At the session, the City will present the Centrum Boulevard Public Realm plan and take questions from the public.
Accessibility is an important consideration for the City of Ottawa. If you require special accommodation, please contact theProject Manager to provide your feedback.
