Cycling in Waterloo Region

[dtkvictim]

What a boring, unimaginative space. It's just an extra large sidewalk with some benches.

I wish this city had some ambition for place-making.

What would you have done with the space?  I might have liked to see a statue or fountain (with seating).

Well, I'm not a designer of any sort, so I wouldn't assert any competence in coming up with a good design. But as a downtown resident I assume I'm part of the target audience for a place like this, so I'm comfortable in stating my dissatisfaction as I wouldn't use it.

A lot of people here seemed to like how the redone cenotaph was more "open" so I might be going against the grain here, but I really dislike the continuous pavements from road to pedestrian space, especially with no barrier. The facts cars are still parking here doesn't help, and suggests they don't feel any sense of separation from the paved road either.

I think just enclosing the space to make it more inviting and then doing the bare minimum like the lights and picnic benches on Gaukel and Ontario St would be a step towards making a "place". Of course I'm also never opposed to more art of any kind, as well as more greenery.

While I'm rambling with ideas, this would be the perfect size for a small urban playground if enclosed properly. While the location isn't ideal, if it could be kept child-friendly I would certainly use it if I was someone willing to raise children downtown.