Tell Us Your Big Idea!

Idea:

We need better communication between the city, the school districts and the stakeholders.

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for this great idea! The City recently implemented a new scheduling software system that is more interactive, user-friendly and front facing. Feedback from user groups booking time in municipal facilities has been very positive to date and we anticipate that your experience will be much improved moving forward. In addition, we are working with schools to ensure that their scheduled use of gym facilities are provided to us well in advance to avoid any rescheduling of community use. Thanks again for your feedback and if you have any further questions or concerns please reach out to Pat Olsen via email at pat.olsen@fredericton.ca.

Idea:

The amount of tax money generated here and there’s nothing given back.

Staff Feedback:

We agree this area is a great spot for a new park - which is why we're planning one! Check out the Master Plan for the Lian Valcour Neighbourhood Park here:

https://www.fredericton.ca/sites/default/files/lian_valcour_park_v10.pdf

Idea:

Playground at Wilmot is aging - lots of innovative, accessible, multi-age playground designs out there! Would love to see this central downtown space upgraded to meet the needs of a growing and more diverse community.

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for your idea! The renewal and improvements to the Wilmot Park Playground are part of the short term implementation plan for Wilmot Park. Currently there are a couple items as part of all the park plans ahead of the new play structure, but it is on our radar: We are looking at a 2023 or 2024 construction date.

Idea:

There isn't sufficient parking at Picaroons for the amount of traffic the location generates and the new north side market occurring there on the weekends. The impact is that cars are pulling off to the side of Union Street on to the grass on Carleton Park. This is not good for the park and presents a significant safety risk given the fast moving traffic on the 800-block of Union. Someone is going to get hurt, as a resident of Union street we've witnessed several near-misses. Recommendation is to add curbing and provide on street parking providing the benefit of overflow capacity to the city lot adjoining Picaroons and slowing overall traffic on Union.

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for sharing your ideas! We have been exploring multiple options to address the parking adjacent to Picaroons and parking in Carleton Park itself. The Carleton Park Masterplan was recently completed and it contemplates rationalizing parking and restoring some of the riverbank. Additionally we are exploring options to add additional parking adjacent to the trail on Station Road.

In 2021 we are planning a major infrastructure project on Union Street between Station Road and Gibson to replace buried infrastructure and improve flood resiliency. While planning this work, we will also look at roadway cross sections.

Idea:

Overnight street parking is banned. Its a real hassle for people who have guests over if they don't have a big driveway. It also encourages people to drink and drive cause if they have one too many the can't leave their car overnight and take a cab home or walk.

Staff feedback:

We hear you. Relaxing the overnight parking restrictions outside the winter months has been discussed through a City multi-disciplinary committee. Staff intend to bring this option of relaxing the summer overnight parking restrictions to City Council in spring 2021 for consideration.

Idea:

Open space in the middle of a growing city will become a rarity. Existing open space, like what we have at FREX and the racetrack is a treasure and once it's gone, it's gone for good. Let's not have an incremental diminishing of this space, but rather a grand plan to establish a multipurpose pavilion in the centre of it to accommodate a great variety of events similar to what the FREX is all about, but more still. It could become one of the venues for Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival as well as for other big name entertainers. Let's preserve and enhance this legacy from the O'Dell family and not build dwellings there. Once the open space is gone, it's gone for good!

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for sharing your vision for the NBEX grounds! The City and the NBEX joined forces last year to create the Joint Land Development Committee, working as equal partners in the future development of the Fredericton exhibition grounds. The committee is made up of City councillors, NBEX board members, community representatives, and staff from the City and NBEX. They were tasked with developing and executing a Site Development Plan for the property. To that end, a consulting firm has been hired (more info here:https://www.fredericton.ca/en/news/city-hall/city-and-nbex-move-to-next-level-of-cooperation-in-developing-exhibition-grounds) and public engagement on the redevelopment of the NBEX grounds will be happening this fall. Stay tuned!

Idea:

Am very disappointed in how the barrier between Officer's Square and Regent street is going to look. Surely it was possible, using modern materials to achieve the look of the former, complete with the wrought iron fence on top.

Staff Feedback:

Thank you for sharing your opinion. The project is only in its first phase and work is still very much ongoing, with lots left to do. We're looking forward to the wall project being completed as we're confident it will look great.

Idea:

CCTV on the traffic circle for rainy day entertainment.

Staff Feedback:

We love that idea, too, and have been tossing it around for a few years. Unfortunately, cost and technical concerns pose a significant hurdle. The idea would likely have to be identified as a priority by Council in order to be receive funding through the City budget.

Idea:

I would really like the city to have a playground located downtown for kids of all ages to play. The closest park is Wilmot and is too far to walk from downtown. Similar to Victoria Park in Charlottetown with rubber floors, structures for all ages and accessible too (see picture). It would attract families in the core downtown.

Staff Feedback:

We agree! There will be a playground built on the perimeter of Officers' Square as part of the City's revitalization plan for this downtown gem. We're also planning a water feature and a skating oval - more details here: https://www.fredericton.ca/en/city-hall/plans-processes/officers-square-revitalization-plan

Idea:

Could we get a permanent Christmas tree at the Legislature? I love going to the lighting every year, but keep thinking we are killing these huge trees for a small period of decoration. If we got a permanent one, we could also decorate it all year round for different events; different religious holidays, have a school decorate it with kids art work in the fall, put green/purple lights on Jazz fest, things like that.

Staff Feedback:

This is such a cool idea! The Legislature building and grounds are owned by the Government of New Brunswick and not the City of Fredericton, so we really have no say about things like the Christmas tree. Here's a link to the Clerk's office at the Legislative Assembly, in case you'd like to share your idea with him: https://www.gnb.ca/legis/office/contacts-e.asp