Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy

Client City of Edmonton
Location Edmonton | Alberta | Canada

More information visit: City of Edmonton Website

The Public Realm Strategy is an important part of improving the quality of life for residents and visitors to Old Strathcona.

Old Strathcona is a unique and vibrant area in Edmonton. It is a cultural hub, tourist destination, historical asset, business district, and an important hub within the City's transportation network, in addition to being home to thousands of people. This strategy provides a meaningful opportunity to help rethink the role of the area's public realm, including parks, plazas, streetscapes, alleyways and other publicly-owned lands within the core of Old Strathcona.

O2 is leading the assignment which is divided into two strategy areas, each with unique needs and objectives. Strategy Area 1 focuses on the publicly-owned lands east and west of Gateway Boulevard between 104 Street, Whyte Avenue, 102 Street, and Saskatchewan Drive. The City of Edmonton is exploring how to improve connectivity for residents, add to the existing community and pocket parks, enhance spaces for festivals and everyday use, and how to accommodate development like mixed-use residential and affordable housing.

Strategy Area 2 focuses on Whyte Avenue from 109 Street in the west to 99 Street in the east. The City of Edmonton is exploring how to make Whyte Avenue better for pedestrians and adding bus-based mass transit. The City Plan identifies Whyte Avenue as a mass transit corridor to connect Bonnie Doon to the University of Alberta (and onto West Edmonton Mall). Prioritizing alleyways for future renewal and activation is another objective of Strategy Area 2.

O2 is continuing to work with the City of Edmonton to provide a vision for public realm throughout Old Strathcona. The project has included extensive public and stakeholder engagement through in-person and virtual platforms. This exciting project will provide a new sensibility to the potential benefits of improved public realm in an continually growing part of the City.