In an effort to reduce expenditures, while containing the spread of COVID-19, City Hall fountain will remain closed for the 2020 summer season.
The Edmonton Civic Precinct encompasses Sir Winston Churchill Square, Centennial Plaza south of the Stanley A. Milner Library, and the City Hall Plaza. The Civic Precinct is a safe, family-friendly, vibrant and lively urban plaza in the heart of Edmonton's downtown. This public gathering space welcomes more than 1 million people a year who participate in programs, events and festivals.
The Civic Precinct and City Hall Fountain are important spaces to Edmontonians and visitors. Rehabilitation of this space is necessary to maintain operations of the surface and fountain for people to enjoy, and to complete required work to meet legislative requirements. The layout and function of the space will remain the same with improvements to safety and accessibility. Rehabilitation project work include:
- Replacement of surface pavers and subgrade around City Hall and in the City Hall Plaza
- Resurfacing 102A Avenue (between 100 Street and 99 Street) to integrate City Hall Plaza and Churchill Square
- Rehabilitation of the East Garden turf (located on the east side of Churchill Square) with a durable surface treatment to accommodate festival, events and public activity
- Upgrade the City Hall Fountain mechanical systems and basin to meet current health and safety standards
Project Goals
- Provide a safe public area
- Create barrier-free spaces for use by all citizens
- Maintain a cohesive feel of the space
- Increase pedestrian accessibility
- Install durable, timeless materials to support lifecycle maintenance
- Maintain the urban tree canopy
- Keep similar opportunities for activities - skating, wading, programs, festivals, events etc.
- Provide vibrancy during all four seasons
Project Timeline
Summer 2018 - fall 2019: Construction in coordination with other major projects in the area.
2017: Design phase
- Skating in front of City Hall
- Wading Pool in front of City Hall
- Concept Plan for City Hall Plaza and Churchill Square
Schematic and detail design will be developed incorporating information from the concept plan.
2016: Final Concept Plan for Surface Rehabilitation Options.
October 2016: Setting the Direction for Concept: Feedback received on the preferred draft concept options for surface rehabilitation. Open house on October 24 and public survey.
Summer - fall 2016: Exploring Options: Developed a draft concept plan with stakeholders and project team.
Winter - spring 2016: City gathered information to support the function, maintenance and operation of the site.
Project Overview
City Council supported a rehabilitation project for 3 areas to improve the aesthetics of Churchill Square and City Hall Plaza. The City’s focus is to ensure that it can maintain the physical condition and functionality of the site to support safety and accessibility:
Replace the tile in the City Hall Plaza with a new surface to decrease the overall site maintenance costs while maintaining the look and feel of the space.
Integrate 102A Avenue with City Hall Plaza and Churchill Square to achieve barrier-free access and improve the appearance of 102A Avenue as a pedestrian zone.
Renew the East Garden in Churchill Square with a new, more resilient, low maintenance surface that stands up to the ongoing demands of festival and event seasons.
Rehabilitate the City Hall Fountain to ensure health and safety standards are met.
New trees will be planted once construction is complete. These trees will be planted in Silva Cells which provide better growing conditions and adequate soil volumes for more sustainable, longer living trees.
The Valley Line LRT construction presents an opportunity for rehabilitation work to be completed on the adjacent public space minimizing the impact to public during construction.
About the Civic Precinct
Edmonton’s Civic Precinct is the area encompassing Sir Winston Churchill Square, Centennial Plaza (south of the Stanley A. Milner Library) and City Hall Plaza. The Civic Precinct includes the area adjacent to 99 Street and 100 Street from 104 Avenue to 101A Avenue. This central public space is used year-round and serves as a venue for festivals and events, organized programs, casual activities, street vendors and public art. The space is designed to be a welcoming, vibrant, active, inclusive place for visitors of all abilities, ages, incomes and cultures.
City Hall opened in 1992 and included the City Hall Plaza and fountain. 25 years later, the surface tile surrounding City Hall and the Fountain requires rehabilitation.
Sir Winston Churchill Square was selected as Edmonton’s Centennial Legacy Project, with a redesign of the park completed in 2004.
What Happened to the Civic Precinct Master Plan from 2013?
- A Civic Precinct Master Plan was presented to Community Services Committee in April 2013. The Master Plan was not supported at Committee.
- The City is committed to continued development of the Civic Precinct by focusing on three priorities: programming, operations and governance structure, and rehabilitation projects
- Governance structure and operation plans: Coordination of operational plans among City Departments and development of new advisory committee.
- Program delivery: ensuring continued animation and vibrancy of the civic centre by balancing events and festivals with opportunities for casual use programming. Continue working with existing and new festival, events and partnerships, and continue development and execution of City-run events.
- Rehabilitation projects:
- Continue to enhance aesthetics (unified look through consistent garbage cans, benches, bistro tables and chairs, umbrellas, and so on).
- Integration of 102A avenue, City Hall Plaza tile replacement, and East Garden turf replacement.