FAQs

City-owned land is property legally owned and managed by a municipal government for various public purposes. The city uses and manages this land to benefit the public, adhering to local laws, regulations, and planning processes, ensuring that it serves the public interest and meets community needs. Examples below include:

• Parks Land and Open Spaces
• Public Rights-of-Way
• Ottawa Public Library Land
• Heritage Land
• School Land
• Urban Greenways (Utility Corridors)
• Recreational Facilities
• Vacant Land
• Mixed-Use Land

A community garden is currently defined by the City of Ottawa as a shared space where people work together to grow food and build community. Community gardens help contribute to:

• Food security
• Community development
• Civic participation and social inclusion
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Environmental awareness
• Individual mental and physical health and wellbeing

Ottawa is home to over 120+ food-producing community gardens. Among these, 27 are situated on City land. The City supports and funds these initiatives through the Community Gardening Network, operated by the non-profit organization Just Food.

Community-led green initiatives are a collective definition for all community driven efforts that enhance a healthy and diverse urban ecosystem. These initiatives could include the development of pollinator gardens, species management and the protection of naturalized spaces and natural assets to support the long-term sustainability and resilience of Ottawa’s urban environment.

As part of the review, the City aims to develop clear definitions of green initiatives and to clarify the potential scope of these initiatives on City-owned land.