Centrum Boulevard Public Realm Improvements

Centrum Boulevard Public Realm Improvements

The Heart of Orléans BIA is committed to advocating for public spaces that support local businesses, strengthen our community, and create memorable experiences for residents and visitors.

 

The City of Ottawa has initiated a Public Realm Plan and Functional Design Study for Centrum Boulevard to explore opportunities to improve the overall character, accessibility, and visitor experience within the Centrum and Prestone area. As one of Orléans’ primary commercial, cultural, and entertainment districts, this corridor plays an important role in the community’s economic vitality and identity.

 

The Heart of Orléans BIA appreciates the opportunity to participate early in the planning process. Working with our Board of Directors and drawing on feedback from local businesses and the community, we have developed a series of recommendations to help guide the future of the area.

Our vision is simple: to create a vibrant, flexible, and welcoming destination that serves the community every day while supporting festivals, markets, businesses, arts, culture, and tourism year-round.

 

Our Advocacy Priorities

 

Create an Event-Ready District

 

Centrum already hosts many of Orléans’ signature events, including the Heart of Orléans Market, Orléans Craft Beer Festival, Cork & Fork, Carivibe, Orléans Pride, Buskerfest, Fête Frissons, Diwali celebrations, and performances at the Shenkman Arts Centre. We believe the public realm should be designed to support these events without relying on temporary infrastructure.

 

We are advocating for:

  • Permanent power and utility connections for festivals and events
  • Built-in Wi-Fi and digital wayfinding
  • Public washrooms
  • Flexible gathering spaces and event plazas
  • Permanent stage, lighting, and event infrastructure
  • Designated loading zones for event operations
  • Year-round lighting that keeps the district vibrant beyond business hours
  • Infrastructure that supports food vendors, markets, live music, and cultural programming

Build a More Walkable and Flexible Public Realm

 

We envision a district that is comfortable to explore on foot and can easily adapt to different uses throughout the year.

Our priorities include:

  • Wider, safer pedestrian connections
  • Streets designed to transition easily between vehicle traffic and community events
  • Automated bollards to simplify street closures
  • Seasonal pedestrianization opportunities
  • Improved transit connections and parking management
  • Better wayfinding throughout the district

Create More Places to Gather

 

Great public spaces encourage people to stay, connect, and return.

 

We support:

  • Public plazas and pocket parks
  • Comfortable seating throughout the district
  • Conversation areas and public dining tables
  • Shade structures and weather protection
  • Spaces that accommodate both everyday use and large community events

Invest in Beautification and Green Infrastructure

 

A greener streetscape creates a more welcoming and enjoyable destination while improving environmental sustainability.

We are advocating for:

  • Expanded tree canopy
  • Four-season landscaping
  • Pollinator and rain gardens
  • Native plantings
  • Decorative planters and seasonal beautification initiatives

Celebrate Arts, Culture, and Local Identity

 

With the Shenkman Arts Centre at its heart, Centrum has an opportunity to become an arts and culture district unlike any other in Ottawa.

 

Our recommendations include:

  • Outdoor performance spaces
  • Interactive public art
  • Sculpture installations and iconic landmarks
  • Rotating art exhibits
  • Projection mapping opportunities
  • Student art displays
  • Public art integrated into sidewalks, lighting, and streetscape elements

We also believe the public realm should reflect what makes Orléans unique by celebrating:

  • Our francophone heritage
  • Arts and culture
  • Connections to the Ottawa River and Greenbelt
  • Local entrepreneurship
  • The ambition behind the #WhyNotOrléans movement

Build for the Future

 

Our recommendations are about more than today’s needs. They are about creating the infrastructure necessary for tomorrow’s opportunities, including larger festivals, outdoor concerts, winter programming, night markets, immersive experiences, and year-round community gathering spaces.

 

Looking Ahead

 

Our vision is for Centrum to become the community living room of Orléans—a place where residents gather, celebrate, shop, dine, experience arts and culture, and connect with one another throughout the year. Every investment made today should improve flexibility, accessibility, and the ability to transform ordinary public spaces into extraordinary community experiences.