Update - September 2026

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