From Special Events to Everyday: Making Vibrancy Permanent in the River District
Owen Sound’s River District comes alive with events — but what would it take to make that vibrancy permanent? Have your say.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
Walking around the River District over the weekend during the Cars & Coffee and Concours d’Lemons events was delightful. I’m not even interested in cars beyond their ability to get me from A to B, but it was heady and exciting to see what a pedestrianized street in downtown with an event happening can do to the mood of citizens.
It got me thinking, how do we make this a permanent mood? What could we do to attract people downtown and encourage them to linger a little longer?
There’s data to go along with that heady and exciting feeling. Foot traffic drives revenue for local businesses, improves safety by putting “eyes on the street,” and builds community connections.
One way to do that is to have what is called non-commercial anchors. These are things that draw people to a place that doesn’t require them to spend money, but will have a positive spillover effect for businesses, and also build community.
Here are a few ideas that other cities have successfully implemented:
A Splashpad – Summers are hotter, and downtown concrete traps heat. A splashpad draws families, offers relief, and serves as a community hub. Downtown Guelph’s Market Square, for example, doubles as a winter skating rink and has public washrooms and pedestrianized space. After it opened, nearby empty retail units quickly filled with bustling restaurants and shops.
Permanent kids’ activities - About 3,000 children aged 0–14 live in Owen Sound - roughly 15% of the population. Parents stay longer when there’s a safe, engaging place for kids to play. Options include a giant chess board, a seasonal rink/floor hockey pad, or chalk walls and interactive art installations.
Pedestrianize streets - We talk about foot traffic not tyre traffic. There was a great deputation to the Community Services Committee this year about exactly this. Pedestrianizing streets means we can fill those spaces with the aforementioned activities that are big draws for folks to come downtown.
Public Washrooms - It’s been said before, and this is glaringly obvious. If there’s nowhere to go, we go home. And if we aren’t housed, then we’re left with undignified options.
Weekly events similar to the Farmers Market – Saturday mornings thrive because of the Farmers Market in my opinion, which acts as an anchor where people meet friends, enjoy food and music, and watch their kids play safely. More fixed, weekly events could recreate that same energy on other days.
These permanent public features draw people in, keep them around, and create the conditions for local businesses to thrive. They’re not the only solutions, and there won’t be unanimous agreement, but they move us toward a more vibrant River District.
Are we content with a downtown that feels alive only a handful of times each summer? Or do we want to build a River District that hums with life, day in and day out? The answer depends on whether we’re brave enough to imagine - and invest in - the anchors that turn vibrancy from a one-off event into the everyday experience our city deserves.
I think taxpayers will ultimately need to invest in this, but these efforts can also be supported by grants, business sponsorship, and other forms of funding. As long as it's clear what's being invested in and the return on that investment, ratepayers and council should be able to get on board.
What do you think? Who is responsible for shifting the tide from talk to action, and how can we make more of it happen here in Owen Sound?
Thank you to sponsors of The Owen Sound Current Writers’ Fund, who make these community contributions possible. Contributions from the community do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Owen Sound Current and its editor or publisher.
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