NCC Sir George-Étienne Cartier Park Plan

[J.OT13]

Sir George-Étienne Cartier Park Plan

The NCC is currently planning for the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Park. This includes defining the long-term vision that will guide the conservation, enhancement and sustainable management of this riverfront park.

This park’s lands surround the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway along the shore of the majestic Ottawa River—a federally designated Canadian Heritage River. It is a wonderful scenic area where you can appreciate the beauty of our natural heritage, cultural landscapes and national institutions.

The NCC is the steward of federal lands in the National Capital Region. As such, it is responsible for protecting and preserving public places for all Canadians. This plan for the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Park will enhance access to the river and animate key public spaces within the park.

• Video Link

About the plan

The park plan focuses on a 13-kilometre stretch of federal lands in Ottawa along the Ottawa River. From west to east, the area extends from Rideau Hall at Princess Avenue to the end of the parkway at St. Joseph Boulevard. It includes the parkway, pathways, trails, national cultural institutions and green spaces.

The goals of the plan:

• Promote and protect a healthy natural environment.
• Foster safe and continuous access to the park and the river.
• Celebrate the heritage, culture and diversity of the riverfront corridor.
• Create and promote diverse, balanced and engaging park experiences.

Engagement

This process includes engagement with the public, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation and the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation, a public advisory committee, as well as stakeholders at key milestones in the planning process.

In fall 2021, the NCC held a public consultation on a vision for the park and suggestions on planning opportunities, as well as information about the challenges facing the park area. The input has informed the plan’s draft vision and preliminary concepts.

The second round of public and stakeholder engagement is ongoing. It focuses on preliminary concepts and goals for the park plan. This round consists of stakeholder meetings, an online consultation and a community open house.

The NCC aims to complete the plan in spring 2024 and to submit it for approval in summer 2024.

Process and Timeline

Phase 1 (completed)

Vision and guiding principles
Online public consultation: Fall 2021

Phase 2

Concept and goals
Public and stakeholder consultations: Winter 2023

Phase 3

Policies and sector plans
Public and stakeholder consultations: Fall 2023

Phase 4

Draft plan
Public consultation: Spring 2024

Phase 5

Plan approval: Summer 2024

https://ncc-website-2.s3.amazonaws.c..._Dec2_2021.pdf

https://ncc-website-2.s3.amazonaws.c...Report_eKB.pdf

Public consultation: https://www.placespeak.com/en/topic/...ce72#/overview

[Uhuniau]

Some interesting comments emerging on that public consultation map.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Some interesting comments emerging on that public consultation map.

Good interesting or bad interesting?

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Good interesting or bad interesting?

Both?

[zzptichka]

Oh cool this is new for Ottawa. Part of the River House Revitalization.
Now add something like that near Zibi or Parliament Hill.

[Harley613]

That is REALLY cool....but are Ottawan's allowed to actually ACCESS our waterways? I thought they were only for looking at or boating upon....

[bartlebooth]

Nice! I can see this being incredibly popular.

[zzptichka]

I hope it's not just for club members or something

[OTSkyline]

Yes, another idea to animate our City and provide different, fun activities for residents. But again, would probably never be approved or even thought of because, you know, Ottawa...

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

Yes, another idea to animate our City and provide different, fun activities for residents. But again, would probably never be approved or even thought of because, you know, Ottawa...

The tweet says it's underway: https://twitter.com/NCC_CCN/status/1649064921978613760

Although it's not on the website: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/projects/ncc-r...campaign=board

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

The tweet says it's underway: https://twitter.com/NCC_CCN/status/1649064921978613760

Although it's not on the website: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/projects/ncc-r...campaign=board

The other images of this project from that same tweet:

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Oh cool this is new for Ottawa. Part of the River House Revitalization.
Now add something like that near Zibi or Parliament Hill.

This is great. At the moment, the east end only has Petrie, while the west has Westboro Beach and Britannia. Great addition!

NCC's Board Meeting summary page doesn't seem to have the same amount of resources. No links to the Presentations or Submissions that we usually have. Hopefully it was just a one time omission.

https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/events/public-...campaign=board

[Uhuniau]

Well, now, that is something! Off to buy a snorkel!

[rocketphish]

110-year-old retaining wall near Ottawa Rowing Club to be demolished, replaced
NCC says wall partly collapsed in 2020, plans to transform road into pedestrian-friendly promenade

CBC News
Posted: Apr 22, 2023 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago



The National Capital Commission is in the early stages of completely replacing the retaining wall on Lady Grey Drive, which is parallel to Sussex Drive near the shore of the Ottawa River, to ensure its structural integrity.

The wall — built between 1911 and 1913 — supports the roadway above, which the commission (NCC) wants to transform into a pedestrian-friendly, multi-use "promenade," according to a presentation at a meeting of the NCC's board Thursday.

The NCC said a geotechnical study found the best way forward was to completely replace the 600 metre-long wall —part of the wall partially collapsed in 2020 — something described as a "formidable engineering challenge."

The Ottawa Rowing Club, which sits just below Lady Grey Drive along the river shoreline, said the work will affect their next two seasons, but they hope to ultimately benefit from the road's revitalization.

"We'll make it work," said club president Peter Thompson. "The members are used to facing challenges at the shoreline, whether it's wind or waves or traffic or congestion on the docks at five o'clock in the morning. They're a pretty resilient group."

On any given spring day, there could be 100 rowers pushing off from the docks at the club. That number can double in the fall, so there will still be traffic along the road.

Thompson said the NCC, along with the city and federal government, has been working with the club on the project.

"We have a commitment on the part of all three parties to keep a traffic lane open," he said. "So far, it's been a workable arrangement."

Public consultations are underway and the NCC said it has been working with local stakeholders to ensure disruptions are kept to a minimum during the construction phase.

In 2010, the federal government gave the NCC $1.5 million for work on "rehabilitation of a highly deteriorated dry limestone retaining wall."

That project was one of eight that were mentioned at the board's meeting Thursday.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...-ncc-1.6817241

[J.OT13]

• Video Link

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

• Video Link

I think this is such an under-rated project. Barely ever hear about it outside of this forum. How many times have we asked the NCC to improve accessibility to our waterfront? This does exactly that.

[SkeggsEggs]

I did an Ottawa river cruise/tour thing and thought that building was very impressive from the river! Had no clue it existed.

[Spoonsy]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

• Video Link

this is cool

was trying to figure out how i had never registered that such a large, unique building existed, given that i used to cycle the rockcliffe parkway the occasional weekend

https://i.imgur.com/0ekx1U2.jpg

but then i looked up pre-restoration photos on street view and it makes sense now


https://i.imgur.com/s3SjT8K.jpg

[Uhuniau]

Yeah, as much as some of us (raises both hands) crap on the NCC, the back-to-the-river philosophy has taken hold quicker, and with better results, than I would have expected.

[Lakeofthewood]

It really does seem like the NCC is starting to shake their decades long reputation for a lack of progress. Between this, Westboro Beach, the bistros, the parkway plans on SJAM and SGEC, and even the closures of QED and CBD they are doing a great job of giving people places to go hang out and enjoy the beauty that Ottawa has.