Vibrant, communal spaces for people to visit businesses, connect with a friend or sit and enjoy the neighbourhood.
The City’s Open Streets initiative, located on Lonsdale Avenue between 14th and 18th Streets provides public spaces that help create a more people-focused main street and a connected, valued neighbourhood. These spaces in Central Lonsdale offer welcoming, inclusive, safe, and accessible areas for people get together and frequent neighbouring local businesses.
By relocating street space along these four blocks, we’ve expanded the sidewalk to offer flexible, pedestrian-oriented spaces designed to support the needs of local residents, shops, cafes, restaurants and visitors to the area. This means more space for people to relax and spend time along the street, and room for businesses to operate outdoors.
Parking and loading zones remain on both sides of the street. In some sections, covered seating is available for all-weather use. In other locations, there is a waiting area so that queues to enter popular destinations are clear of the sidewalk and allow for greater accessibility and movement.
Events and Activities
By partnering with local organizations such as United Way of the Lower Mainland and North Shore Pride Alliance, as well as integrating City initiatives such as our Parklets Program and Studio in the City Youth Art Program, we have re-imagined these roadways and curbsides into dynamic, engaging community spaces.
Some of the events and activities the Open Streets spaces have hosted include:
- Live musicians
- Neighbourhood meet-ups
- Little Libraries
- Community potlucks
- Public art projects and installations
Want to host a public event in our Open Streets spaces? We’d love to work with you. Contact openstreets@cnv.org.
Background
The Open Streets initiative began as a recovery response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide safe outdoor spaces for people to connect during a time of social isolation. Over time, these places along Central Lonsdale have evolved from spaces along our roadways that improved access to businesses while providing safe social distancing, to expanded spaces for community gathering, activities and events and for neighbours to socialize and visit local businesses.