02-28-2019, 09:39 AM
(02-28-2019, 09:30 AM)Spokes Wrote: Kitchener resident proposes turning Gaukel Street into a pedestrian promenadeIt is a brilliant idea. It is a road that isnt required now. And when the Bus terminal shuts down, even less...
Quote:Sam Nabi was walking downtown on a recent Sunday, when he looked down Gaukel Street from city hall, and got an idea.https://www.therecord.com/news-story/919...promenade/
He could see the clock tower from the 1924 city hall three blocks away in Victoria Park. Gaukel was closed to traffic, as it will be for the rest of 2019, to allow construction of the Charlie West condo tower.
Why not permanently close the short street to traffic, and create a pedestrian- and bike-friendly connection between the downtown and the park, he thought.
He floated the idea in a tweet: "Closing Gaukel St. hasn't really affected downtown traffic as far as I can see," he wrote. "How great would it be to turn the entire street into a pedestrian promenade? It would link the park, the Victoria Park ION station, and City Hall."
"It seems to have stirred a lot of people's imagination," Nabi said of his idea. Conversations continued online, and soon a group of about a dozen supporters had put a more formal proposal they are circulating to city officials, the downtown business association and several other groups.
His "Gaukel Greenway" proposal soon attracted comments from about four dozen people, most in favour, including Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and Coun. John Gazzola.
"I'm really loving this idea," Vrbanovic tweeted, adding that he would take the idea to city staff. Gazzola called it "a great idea."
Lets hope it goes through....