Open Streets: Temporary Linear Urban Park

The City of Hamilton is planning an Open Streets pilot project which would turn King Street into a Temporary Urban Linear Park from John Street to Gage Avenue. On one weekend day in 2023, 4 kms of linear roadway space would be transformed into additional public space that could be used for cycling, physical activity stations and small urban activations.

This project will focus on the corridor of King Street between John Street and Gage Avenue to create a comfortable area for walking, rolling and cycling. There will also be some opportunities for non-commercial programming from community organizations.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic mobility patterns have shifted. Around the world there has been significant uptake in walking, cycling, and generally being outside more. Many cities have recognized this and innovated in many ways including through pop-up bike lanes, temporary dining spaces, quiet streets, and free or discounted transit. In North America, the most common measure has been the opening of entire streets for non-motorized activities (Combs and Pardo, 2021).

Open Streets are programs that temporarily open streets to people as additional public space, closing them to cars. These events typically have a family-friendly festival type atmosphere but are not organized as festivals. The first one was conducted in Bogota, Columbia in 1974. The Cyclovia (translated to “Cycle-way”) closed major streets to vehicular traffic on Sundays, and still runs today with 122 km of roadway included in the program. Hamilton has successfully run Open Streets -style events in the past, including an event on James St. N and one in Westdale.

Your input will help the City of Hamilton understand the interest in this project from local residents, and to help guide the final design of the project. City staff expect to bring a draft recommendation to City Council with more project specifics based on consultation.