The evolution of KW

[MidTowner]

Indeed, this is the main reason WPS got the nod as opposed to Kitchener's Civic Square. That KCS configuration is not as conducive to the gathering that takes place at WPS. There are two main reasons for this: one is the location of the fountain, the other is the lack of seating with central focus, like WPS has.

I really don't see an issue with the civic square in Kitchener as some of you seem to think. I have attended many events there with my family and have not found it to be uninviting or difficult to get around. Most time I park in the underground so when I come up and exit, I am in the square. Additionally, with the upgrades to King street, they just shut it down now and you have a much larger square using the street. The fact that there is no curbs makes this very easy.  I think they did a great job.  I find it particularly interesting that this forum often criticizes all things Kitchener.  Just my observation having read this forum everyday for the last few years even when it was Wonderful Waterloo.

I agree: when King is shut, it's been designed in such a way that the square quite naturally includes King Street, and it's a great space. But I do think the comment that the positioning of the ice rink can break up the space a bit is valid. It depends: at the Christkindl Markt this year, the stage for the choirs was positioned in the northeast corner of the square, and there seemed not to be a nice space for listeners to congregate. At Blues Fest, though, when the stage was set up in King Street, it seemed like the whole area was one cohesive (and quite large) square and just a great space period. That was in the summer, though, of course...

I haven't observed any anti-Kitchener bias here at all, by the way. People seem pretty excited about all the changes downtown has been going through the last few years.