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Creating vibrant, people-friendly streets in Centretown – Summer 2025
From mid-June to mid-October 2025, the City of Ottawa is launching the Street Seats Pilot Program, a new initiative that pilots transforming select streets in Centretown into seasonal public spaces that support community use, local businesses, and pedestrian-friendly zones.
The Street Seats Pilot Program is one part of the Centretown Street Safety and Revitalization Action Plan, which focuses on enhancing Centretown’s main streets as safe, inviting, and vibrant places for residents and visitors to enjoy.
What is the Street Seat Pilot Program?
The Street Seats Pilot Program temporarily repurposes short sections of local streets adjacent to Bank Street—including MacLaren, Frank, Florence—into welcoming pedestrian-first spaces.
Why?
This project aims to:
Support the efforts being undertaken on many fronts regarding improving downtown street maintenance, social service support, public safety, and economic revitalization
Test ideas on how Bank Street public space could be transformed
Improve safety on local streets for all modes of transportation
Provide more welcoming public spaces for all
These new spaces will feature:
Planters, art, and decorative street treatments
Community programming in collaboration with the Centretown Business Improvement Area (BIA)
Small outdoor commercial offerings
A relaxed and vibrant public space that invites people to gather, socialize, and enjoy Centretown
Daily maintenance and site security
Where is this happening?
The pilot includes modifications on the following streets:
MacLaren Street – east of Bank Street: Local vehicle access remains. Angled parking will be converted into public space for the season.
Florence Street – west of Bank Street: Local vehicle access will be maintained via the public laneway. The block between the laneway and Bank Street will become a public space for the season.
Frank Street – east of Bank Street: The street will be temporarily converted to two-way traffic to maintain local access. The block between private parking entry points and Bank Street will be used as public space for the season.
The three pilot public spaces were selected in partnership with local businesses and the Centretown BIA to help ensure they are well maintained. City traffic, road maintenance, fire, and paramedic services were also consulted to ensure that these services are not disrupted.
The pilot projects will require that cyclists dismount and walk through the new public spaces as they approach Bank Street. Alternate through routes for cyclists are available on other parallel roads.
Creating vibrant, people-friendly streets in Centretown – Summer 2025
From mid-June to mid-October 2025, the City of Ottawa is launching the Street Seats Pilot Program, a new initiative that pilots transforming select streets in Centretown into seasonal public spaces that support community use, local businesses, and pedestrian-friendly zones.
The Street Seats Pilot Program is one part of the Centretown Street Safety and Revitalization Action Plan, which focuses on enhancing Centretown’s main streets as safe, inviting, and vibrant places for residents and visitors to enjoy.
What is the Street Seat Pilot Program?
The Street Seats Pilot Program temporarily repurposes short sections of local streets adjacent to Bank Street—including MacLaren, Frank, Florence—into welcoming pedestrian-first spaces.
Why?
This project aims to:
Support the efforts being undertaken on many fronts regarding improving downtown street maintenance, social service support, public safety, and economic revitalization
Test ideas on how Bank Street public space could be transformed
Improve safety on local streets for all modes of transportation
Provide more welcoming public spaces for all
These new spaces will feature:
Planters, art, and decorative street treatments
Community programming in collaboration with the Centretown Business Improvement Area (BIA)
Small outdoor commercial offerings
A relaxed and vibrant public space that invites people to gather, socialize, and enjoy Centretown
Daily maintenance and site security
Where is this happening?
The pilot includes modifications on the following streets:
MacLaren Street – east of Bank Street: Local vehicle access remains. Angled parking will be converted into public space for the season.
Florence Street – west of Bank Street: Local vehicle access will be maintained via the public laneway. The block between the laneway and Bank Street will become a public space for the season.
Frank Street – east of Bank Street: The street will be temporarily converted to two-way traffic to maintain local access. The block between private parking entry points and Bank Street will be used as public space for the season.
The three pilot public spaces were selected in partnership with local businesses and the Centretown BIA to help ensure they are well maintained. City traffic, road maintenance, fire, and paramedic services were also consulted to ensure that these services are not disrupted.
The pilot projects will require that cyclists dismount and walk through the new public spaces as they approach Bank Street. Alternate through routes for cyclists are available on other parallel roads.
