![City proposes renewing Wîhkwêntôwin to prioritize pedestrians over cars 121 Street in Wîhkwêntôwin.](https://taprootyeg.blob.core.windows.net/photos/2024/07/11/wihkwentowin-3082-2.jpg)
City proposes renewing Wîhkwêntôwin to prioritize pedestrians over cars
As it prepares for neighbourhood renewal in Wîhkwêntôwin, the City of Edmonton wants feedback on its design proposals for new bike infrastructure, traffic-calming measures, and linear parks in place of portions of roads.
The neighbourhood just west of the downtown core (technically named Oliver until January) is bounded to its east by 109 Street, its north by 104 Avenue, its west by 124 Street, and its south by the river valley. It is one of the city's densest communities, with more than 18,000 residents as of the 2019 municipal census, most of whom live in multi-family buildings. It's also up for renewal, meaning the streets and sidewalks will be repaved and resealed. The city said it will also use the opportunity to update Wîhkwêntôwin's infrastructure to current standards by widening sidewalks and narrowing automobile lanes, and to increase green space.
Edmonton residents can provide feedback on the city's draft design options for part of the neighbourhood renewal until July 25. The city will release design options for other parts of the neighbourhood later this year. Residents can offer feedback on each portion of roadway. Some portions have multiple options for renewal, while others have just one.
Ward O-day'min Coun. Anne Stevenson, who represents Wîhkwêntôwin, said the proposals could make an already walkable neighbourhood even more so. "What's so exciting about Wîhkwêntôwin renewal is it's building on strengths that are already there," she told Taproot. "We know that we have the users who would really appreciate and use and make best use of enhancements."
Aaron Budnick, lead organizer with the Edmonton Bike Coalition, said the draft options include "really great highlights and a few really excellent options," but also said there are "a number of areas for improvement as well."
City council approved funding the planning, design, and construction phases of Wîhkwêntôwin neighbourhood renewal in the 2023-2026 capital budget. There is $546 million allocated for 55 neighbourhood renewal projects across the city in the budget cycle.
Street closures, parklets
Of all the changes presented in the documents, proposed closures for vehicle access to some streets could most profoundly affect how drivers can move through the neighbourhood.
Stevenson said the proposed changes reflect the design principle that it should be easy to move around Wîhkwêntôwin but not necessarily through it. "I think that idea of our community not being a thoroughfare or just someplace that you pass through is a really important one — it is where tens of thousands of Edmontonians live," she said.