Accessibility Update for Businesses Expanding Outdoor Space

The city is committed to improving accessibility guidelines for business owners who are planning to use outdoor space during the upcoming spring and summer.

An important part of the planning process is ongoing consultation with the Inclusion Advisory Committee (IAC) who advise council and staff on best practices and guidelines that support accessibility. As a result of these discussions, businesses planning to build parklets in the downtown core and in Churchill Square are required to maintain a sidewalk width of 2 metres in front of their business. This will allow for a barrier free sidewalk corridor, both inside and outside of the Pedestrian Mall.

There are two checklists available to guide business owners through the parklet application process, based on location:

• Checklist for privately owned land
• Checklist for City owned land 

The Downtown Pedestrian Mall event will run from Friday, July 2 to Monday, September 6.

The following streets will be pedestrian only from noon to 10 p.m. daily:

• Water Street, from Adelaide Street to Prescott Street
• Duckworth Street, from New Gower Street to Bates Hill
• Duckworth Street, from Cathedral Street to Prescott Street 

Note that street sections that are part of the Pedestrian Mall will be closed to through traffic as of 8 a.m. on July 2 until September 6. Deliveries will be permitted until noon daily.

If you own a business located inside the Pedestrian Mall, please apply for your parklet by May 31, 2021. This deadline will allow the City to identify vacant spaces inside the road closure area that may be available for other downtown businesses.