Tell Us Your Big Idea!

Idea:

Imagin the tourism and tourism dollars you would attract to the city if we had waterfront development like Saint John or Halifax. Marina needs better facilities and space to attract recreational boaters. Boaters spend $$$ in cities and communities they visit.

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for your good idea! We've shared it with the team at Tourism and they'll keep it in mind.

Idea:

Everyone loves to visit beautiful places, Halifax, Charlottetown, Ottawa etc. Make Fredericton one of those towns. Beautiful Christmas light starting in November, Christmas markets in Officer square. Outdoor patios, board walk along the river. Build Carleton bridge to the first pillar and make it accessible for a café.

Staff Feedback:

Thank you for your Big Idea! We've shared it with staff in various departments.

Idea:

Allow dogs off leach at parks before and after busy hours. Summer and winter hours would be different. Avoid high traffic times with Children and families.

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for your thoughts! Staff is looking at this idea - stay tuned!

Idea:

It would be a good idea for the City of Fredericton to get involved by creating space for courts . It is a very healthy endeavour especially for a growing senior population.

Staff Feedback:

Thank you for your Big Idea. We've shared it with the team at Recreation and Leisure. We'd love it if you also shared your thoughts on the new Recreation & Leisure Master Plan survey HERE.

Thanks again!

Idea:

Build a walking bridge with the old Carleton Bridge to connect North side to South side. Many people would leave their car at home and walk.

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for your suggestion. The Bridge Piers belong to the Province of New Brunswick as they remain from the former Carleton Street Bridge. We've had many requests over the years to construct a 2nd dedicated walking bridge at this location using the former piers. A bridge engineering consultant was retained in 2017 and ultimately estimated that the cost to construct a pedestrian bridge here would be in the order of $45 million dollars; similar to the cost of simply building a new dedicated pedestrian bridge. The Bridge Piers are over 100 years old and have not been maintained for almost 40 years. Given the very high price tag for this type of upgrade, there are no current plans to move this project forward.

An alternative plan that the City will be exploring as part of the current Transportation Study is be to evaluate the feasibility of widening the sidewalk on the WSB to better facilitate walkers and cyclists. This would also likely require a significant capital investment; however, staff feels it would be a major enhancement to further promote active transportation crossing the River.

Idea:

I've noticed lately when I'm driving on the Fredericton Bypass, specifically between the Dollarama/Regent mall and Sobeys, there are lots of people who walk/run across the highway to get to the other side. Should/could build a Pedestrian bridge or something so that people aren't just running across the highway and can safely get across. Or build a fence to stop Pedestrians from crossing onto the highway.

Staff Feedback:

Thank you for your Big Idea. We shared with with staff in our Engineering Dept. They explained that area in question belongs to the provincial government (with some of it also being private property), so the City would not be permitted to build anything on that spot.

Idea:

I am writing to propose the construction of a community ice rink at Reading Park Field in the Skyline Acres neighbourhood. This initiative would provide a valuable recreational space for the community, particularly benefiting the children in the The choice of Reading Park Field is strategic due to its central location within Skyline Acres. This easily accessible site would encourage outdoor activity among neighbourhood children, fostering a healthy and active lifestyle during the winter months. An ice rink in this location can become a hub for community engagement, promoting social interaction and a sense of community spirit. To address environmental and budgetary concerns, I suggest using a large white tarp for the rink’s base. This tarp would significantly reduce water wastage during warmer periods, as it can be used to effectively hold and refreeze melted ice. Moreover, the white color of the tarp reflects sunlight, minimizing the melting of ice on warmer days. For the perimeter of the rink, cost-effective and readily available lumber can be used. This not only provides a sturdy boundary for the rink but also aligns with the sustainable and budget-friendly approach of this project. The primary benefit of this project is the promotion of physical activity among the neighbourhood’s children. In a world increasingly dominated by indoor and sedentary activities, having access to a local ice rink encourages kids to play outside, benefiting their physical health and well-being. Additionally, ice skating is an inclusive activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels, making it a perfect community-building activity. The rink would also offer an opportunity for organized community events like skating and hockey games, further enriching the community’s social fabric. In conclusion, the establishment of a community ice rink at Reading Park Field is not only a feasible project in terms of logistics and budget but also a significant step towards enhancing the quality of life in the Skyline Acres neighbourhood. It presents an opportunity to promote physical activity, community engagement, and environmental sustainability. I hope this proposal will be given earnest consideration, and I am eager to discuss further details or assist in any way to bring this project to fruition.

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for this thoughtful submission! We've shared your Big Idea with staff at our Recreation and Leisure Dept and they love it! It dovetails with discussions they're already having.Thanks for sharing, and stay tuned!

Idea:

During winter months when the days are short most people get off work by the time it is dark. It is already difficult to encourage outdoor activity when people are less inclined to go outside in the cold. Having parks and trails lit with a modest amount of lights would encourage people to continue using these options in the evenings of winter. To add, this would also create a greater sense of safety for those who have to walk at night and would otherwise avoid trails due to the lack of light. Increased visibility helps to increase a sense of safety and reduce crime and loitering.

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for your Big Idea! We understand your concerns and agree that proper lighting is a key component to safety, especially. While lighting infrastructure can be very expensive and take many years to complete, the team at the City's Parks & Trees department are currently working on a plan to provide additional lighting on some of our busier trails. There are many things to consider when it comes to lighting of public spaces(unintended light pollution on neighbouring properties can be an issue, for instance).

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. We have shared them with the staff at Parks & Trees and they're grateful for your interest.

Idea:

All available spaces are currently open only a few set hours per week or for specific events, with times that often overlap naps or daycare. Parents need a space to take small children to socialize and play - even on weekends, mornings, and later afternoons, and especially in cold/bad weather. The resource centre would be a good option if it could be funded to be staffed all day for open play, but a south side location would be very welcome.

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for sharing your Big Idea (and we apologize for somehow missing it when you first posted it!). Your idea is intriguing and we shared it with the staff at our Recreation and Leisure department. The team at Rec is in the midst of developing a new Recreation and Leisure Master Plan to assist the City in guiding and managing the direction of recreation and leisure services, program, events, facilities, parks, open spaces, and other recreation amenities. You can learn more about it HERE and in the meantime we've shared your thoughts with the project team.

Idea:

Who wants to eat in the exhibition grounds parking lot? Setting up a temporary waterfront social area between flood season and winter that hosts food vendors and public lounge areas, music, buskers etc. would draw a lot more people downtown beyond just the night market.

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for your suggestion! We've shared it with the City staff.