Centennial Plaza Redevelopment - Preliminary Design

I am thrilled to see these ideas for the development of Centennial Plaza. I like the amount of seating and green areas and am pleased to see a dedicated play area for the daycare. I was a member of the group behind the naming of Judy Padua Way - she would be very excited about these improvements. I strongly urge City Council to proceed with this project !

There needs to be a larger playground for kids then what is currently anticipated. This backs onto the Milner Children's Library, which, along with the proposed daycare space, should be enough reason to construct a much larger playground for kids, as Downtown currently does not have a large one.

I also would like views from 100 Street looking into the Plaza to be clear, which the Library Parkade roof currently obstructs. The plaza will not be inviting if you cannot see it well from that major Downtown street (also, CPTED).

I appreciate that different activity areas have been defined and seating provided. I like the terrain forms too. As urban designer, I would suggest a central gathering area, a place that can be used for library programming or community events (i.e. street musicians entertaining the people seating around, or Sunday farmers market). We need activities to bring people to this place. I'd be cautious with the shading structures, these are quite large and visually heavy, don't go overboard with these, a lighter material and detail may reduce their visual impact, use them sparingly (as vertical accents or artwork). Did you think of how the Plaza can be used in the winter - perhaps a winter playground and
an outdoor Christmas market. Synergy of uses all year long is the name of the game. Power outlets throughout may be useful. Don't forget to provide bike parking area around the entrance.

I like that different activity areas, terrain forms and seating has been provided. As an urban designer, I would suggest a central gathering area that may be used for library programming or small community events (i.e. street performers entertaining the people seating around). I would expect a bit more greenery, a few more trees, and a better definition of the edges (seating facing inward along the east edge). Please, be cautious with the shading structures - these are quite large in scale and visually imposing - either use some lighter material and detail to mitigate that, or use them sparingly as vertical accents only (or public artwork). Rather, use natural greenery and trees to brake the "heat island effect" in the summer. Another suggestion is to imagine how this space can be used in the winter, perhaps as a children playground supported by some commercial uses (i.e. a Christmas market may need power outlets). "Synergy of uses" is the name of the game. Lastly, don't forget a bike parking area around the library entrance. Looking forward to seeing the detail design!

Hate the idea of a "fenced in daycare area"; it will definitely make the whole area seem off-limits. At the very least, follow the suggestion to have the fencing low and glass so it's unobtrusive. Love the suggestion of different types of seating, ie: seating in a circle, etc.

I don't really care what happens with the Centennial Plaza as long as something is done with the gigantic Library Parkade entrance on 100 Street. This parkade entrance is a visual barrier that cuts off the plaza from the street. It defeats the purpose of this plaza revitalization. It is a potential safety hazard for pedestrians walking on this street. Please reduce the size of the parkade entrance and remove the glass roof.

I don't really care what happens with the Centennial Plaza as long as something is done about the gigantic Library Parkade along 100 Street. This parkade visually cuts off the plaza from the street and is a potential safety hazard for pedestrians.

It looks like a place to sit and have your lunch before going back to the office, but other than that there's really nothing here. I'm not sure how I would change the plan but it just seems like an opportunity that should not be wasted on a simple seating area. Is there perhaps a way to make this plaza more integrated with the east west corridor from rice howard way to canada place? Perhaps pavers that extend across the streets in either direction? I'm thinking something similar to the way Churchill square was connected to city hall. It really makes the area feel open, expansive and pedestrian friendly.

I like the organic feel of grass and trees and amenities for children using library.

It looks great, I only hope that the hills are not too high to result in similar problems that occurred when Beaver Hills Park was initially landscaped.

Nice plan. I think the children's area is a bit too close to the stairs. Maybe move it West a bit. I was thinking that the concrete part should be a little colorful, otherwise it might look all a bit bland. I was just wondering where the librarie's muster point is. Not sure if the space there is sufficient? I presume it's on the other side of the building maybe?

Ensure the hills are not too high so that Centennial Plaza does not become a remake of Beaver Hills Park that that only attracted drug dealers at night. If the lighting is abundant at night, it will help deter crime.

I like it. The only questions/considerations I think you should think about is moving the children's reading area closer to the entrance to the library/cafe and further away from 99 Street. More central will increase access from library and increase safety away from streets. I assume the "daycare" area will be fenced in some way due to proximity to the street and the tunnel exit from the parkade. This will take away from the openness and interaction you are trying to achieve. Maybe try shifting it to the east side and reorient it to north/south and then the fencing won't be so disruptive to the visual connection over Padua Way.

"I FULLY AGREE FOR THIS"

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" This Centennial Redevelopment Preliminary Design, 'Yes' my feed back as we should get all best in the Edmonton to becoming leading source of quality response".

Planters and benches, planters and benches, planters and benches -- is this the best that the City Planners can do???!!!

More play/playground space for families and children

While there are elements here that I like, there are some that fail. One of the largest urban failures we have with Rice Howard Way, Judy Padua Way and Shoctor Alley is the lack of any east/west connection between Canada Place and 101st Street. Not only are there misalignments along 101A Avenue and a lack of through traffic in either direction, there is no visual connection either. One of the largest obstructions to that visual connection has been the Molson Amphitheatre and this plan perpetuates that with the fenced in daycare area. That area should be as low and as transparent as possible (i.e. glass rather than solid railings at the edges) to minimize that as much as possible. It should be maintained along Judy Padua Way as well as at the ends so you also have sight-lines from the sidewalk on the south side clear across this plaza to the library. This would make that streetscape sidewalk - which has no transparent urban edges to the Westin - a safer, more open and inviting stretch. I would then move the day care space adjacent to the library where the building would provide shelter from the prevailing north west wind and well as some shelter from the weather underneath the overhang. The locations of the other elements could simply be adjusted to suit. Losing the entrance to the Westin Parking from Rue Hull will be a loss if the ramp at that corner of the plaza can't be integrated without closing it. Tree species haven't been shown but the ones on the south side of Judy Padua Way will be problematic given the lack of sunshine they will get. I hope (a) the tree wells will be generous enough to help compensate for that and (b) that the trees are large enough when first installed to have a good chance for survival (the typical vertical twigs that have been planted in recent years won't have a hope or a prayer).

Yes looks nice. That space needed more greenery. I also like the stage, great interactive arts space.