The Canadian city is working to take 18 downtown lots and convert them from surface parking to green space.
Land covering 1.25 hectares (approx. 3.09 acres) is slated for new park space in downtown Edmonton, if city officials get there way. CBC News reports that the city is negotiating with the four property owners who own 18 downtown parcels to determine purchase prices. The city would seek to combine the parcels into a new downtown park "large enough for festivals and gatherings" and also dog friendly.
The fact the owners are considering selling all the lots provides a unique opportunity for the city, said Duncan Fraser, an urban planner for the City of Edmonton.
"You don't find an open space this large in the downtown. It doesn't exist," he said. "[We're] taking gravel and turning it into green."
Fraser said the city is expecting the population downtown to skyrocket over the next several years, and the green space would add to the quality of life for downtown dwellers.
The city will consider the park proposal at a Planning Commission meeting in February. Meanwhile, while Fraser notes that Downtown Edmonton has plenty of parking, an underground lot beneath the park may be considered if the park plan goes forward.
FULL STORY: 'Goodbye gravel, hello green': city planners hope to convert parking lots to green space
All We Want for the Holidays is…
Here are a dozen timely gift ideas for creating better communities.
Edmonton Eliminates Off-Street Parking Requirements Citywide
The parking reform movement continues its march across the continent.
Watch: How to Remove Thousands of Parking Spaces
What the city of Amsterdam will gain by removing cars from on-street parking space.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track
The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.
Massachusetts Gov. Makes Case for Road Funding Reforms
A package of proposed bills would change the state’s road funding formula to ensure more money flows to rural areas with limited resources.
Art in Action: USC Event Calls for an Urgent Green Energy Transition
The El Respiro / Respire event at USC uses a large-scale human geochoreography to demand an urgent and equitable transition to green energy, blending art, activism, and community engagement to amplify the message of climate justice.
Safe Parking Programs Help People Access Housing
The safety and stability offered by Safe Parking sites have helped 40 percent of unhoused San Diego residents who accessed these programs get into permanent housing.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research