Attractiveness

Goal Five: Edmonton is an attractive city

Edmontonians love their parks, green spaces, natural areas, river valley and landscaped boulevards.

Residents see local parks and boulevards as essential elements of Edmonton’s attractiveness. The river valley in particular is a source of pride. Edmontonians look to their municipal government to preserve the integrity of the river valley and to provide and protect access to the top of the river bank so that all residents can enjoy the vistas. Natural spaces restore residents’ spirits and add to a sense of well-being.

Edmontonians confidently invite visitors to the city, proud to show it off in the splendour of all of its seasons. They embrace the importance of their vibrant arts, culture, entertainment, sports and retail districts and want their municipal government to support and promote these areas of attraction and vitality.

They also add aesthetically pleasing and innovative architecture and design to their list of what makes their city attractive. Residents encourage their municipal government to be bold and inspire innovative architecture and design in all areas of the city to further inspire civic pride. They work with government and stakeholders to develop a beautiful city.

Edmontonians live in a winter city and celebrate their season of ice and snow, animating public areas with festivals, events and activities. They value their collective histories and work with their municipal government to honour and preserve the unique character and history of neighbourhoods and buildings.

They look to the past for naming places and spaces that are culturally reflective of their diverse history.

Ultimately, Edmontonians view cleanliness as essential to the attractiveness of their city. They work with their communities to keep places clean and encourage the municipal government in its education programs to prevent and eliminate litter vandalism and graffiti.

Objectives

5.1 The City of Edmonton promotes civic pride through attractive design.

Strategic Policy Directions

The City of Edmonton:

• Partners and engages businesses, community organizations and other orders of government to achieve aesthetically pleasing design.
• Builds attractive civic buildings, public gathering places and streets.
• Engages Edmontonians in developing a unique and beautiful city.
• Promotes innovative architecture and design in all areas of the city.

5.2 The City of Edmonton showcases its vibrant arts, culture, entertainment, sports and retail districts.

Strategic Policy Directions

The City of Edmonton:

• Provides, partners and advocates for the downtown core and business revitalization zones as a showcase for civic pride.
• Partners with stakeholders to incorporate arts into the daily life of Edmontonians.
• Promotes its spaces and buildings as venues for public art¹ and artists.
• Supports and promotes Edmonton’s vibrant retail, sports and entertainment sectors.
• Promotes and celebrates winter and Edmonton's status as a winter city².

5.3 The City of Edmonton takes pride in and showcases its green spaces and natural places.

Strategic Policy Directions

The City of Edmonton:

• Designs, builds and partners to maintain city boulevards and green spaces and the North Saskatchewan River Valley as an integral part of an attractive city.
• Designs, builds, provides and protects public access to the top of bank and ravine system.
• Provides activities and events in city green spaces throughout all seasons.
• Promotes the river valley as the centrepiece of an integrated regional park system.
• Promotes the beauty of our green spaces, parks, aquatic and natural areas.
• Promotes the enhancement and protection of significant lands, trees, views and streets in its neighbourhoods.

5.4 The City of Edmonton honours and preserves the unique character and history of all neighbourhoods.

Strategic Policy Directions

The City of Edmonton:

• Creates and enforces practices, standards and bylaws to promote community art and historical preservation.
• Provides naming conventions and interpretive materials that are culturally reflective of Edmonton’s diverse history and heritage.
• Partners to protect and maintain heritage buildings and other historical elements.
• Promotes the historic character of its various neighbourhoods.

5.5 The City of Edmonton works with citizens to keep Edmonton clean.

Strategic Policy Directions

The City of Edmonton:

• Legislates and enforces public standards of property cleanliness, upkeep and maintenance.
• Provides a positive model of property cleanliness, upkeep, maintenance and adherence to community standards in all of its properties.
• Provides and maintains clean public spaces³, infrastructure and green spaces.
• Provides education programs and positive alternatives to prevent and eliminate vandalism, graffiti and litter.
• Engages citizens in keeping Edmonton clean and attractive.
• Promotes the redevelopment of derelict structures.

Glossary

1. Public Art

• An artistic endeavour produced for decorative or functional purposes and displayed in public areas of public buildings and parks.

2. Winter City

• Refers to a strategy that engages citizens and communities in active lifestyle in the winter time.

3. Public Spaces

• Lands, buildings and structures held by government organizations for use by the general public. (City of Edmonton Urban Parks Management Plan)