A pedestrian-first Gaukel Street

In summer of 2020, Gaukel Street was transformed to a pedestrian-first street and passive seating area. The pandemic has restricted opportunities for programming but the street continues to function as an enjoyable space for pedestrians, including a street art installation featuring Indigenous art. Feedback from previous surveys will continue to shape plans moving forward, as the space evolves and contributes to a vibrant downtown. Subscribe to this page to get updates and learn about future opportunities to give feedback on this project.
Background
In February 2019, a group of residents proposed the idea of converting Gaukel Street to aContinue reading
In summer of 2020, Gaukel Street was transformed to a pedestrian-first street and passive seating area. The pandemic has restricted opportunities for programming but the street continues to function as an enjoyable space for pedestrians, including a street art installation featuring Indigenous art. Feedback from previous surveys will continue to shape plans moving forward, as the space evolves and contributes to a vibrant downtown. Subscribe to this page to get updates and learn about future opportunities to give feedback on this project.
Background
In February 2019, a group of residents proposed the idea of converting Gaukel Street to a pedestrian-oriented street, after observing the closure of Gaukel for construction. They hosted a pop-up park in September 2019, to build support for a permanent transition to the street’s function. At the pop-up park, a survey was completed by 258 people, who either attended the event or were notified through a direct mailing to people living nearby. Read a full summary of that survey here.
Council directed staff to explore the potential to make Gaukel Street a pedestrian-oriented street, available for community events and initiatives. Through Engage Kitchener, we asked residents how you’d like to see Gaukel Street function, and what type of amenities can enhance Gaukel Street as a pedestrian and pubic space street, using ideas provided from people at the pop-up park.
Gaukel Street serves as a major pedestrian route, connecting Victoria Park, the ION LRT station, City Hall and the heart of downtown. Named after Freidrich Gaukel, an early 1800s tavern keeper and community leader, Gaukel Street is home to historical panel boards, the heritage protected Public Utilities Commission Building and is situated on the traditional territory home of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. The street is at the centre of a transforming downtown, with a prominent arts institution (44 Gaukel), tech offices and new condos contributing to the resurgence of downtown Kitchener, where people can live, work, shop and play.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
What ideas do you have for a transformed Gaukel Street?
over 1 year agoCLOSED: This brainstormer has concluded.Feel free to dream big! Just remember, the current budget does not allow for major construction so ideas that require significant changes to the streetscape will be used to shape a long-term vision of the street.
Share a idea and/or upload a photo!
Andrew Kalmost 2 years agoContinuous pavement
Raise the street to sidewalk level for a more seamless pedestrian experience. Gaukel should interrupt Joseph and Charles, not the other way around.
0 comment1Bruce Ertelover 1 year agoReturn to the loop of one way streets. Then you can close as many streets as you want without affecting people who have things to do.
0 comment0Zach Summerhayesover 2 years agoInspiring Quotes
Quotes from mystics, or thought and activist leaders that would 1) serve to nurture positivity, or 2) have us reflect deeper on the nature of reality and invite us to transcend our default perspectives. Nurturing positivity could include things like eliciting gratitude, joy, wonder, pleasure, inspiration, compassion, rational thought, beautiful imagination. Transcendent reflection could include quotes from text translations like the Tao Te Ching, Rumi, western philosophers, naturalists, scientists, other contemporaries. It'd be cool to include some from different cultures and or even have the the quotes or symbols in different languages. That'd create curiosity for those that don't know. An opportunity to translate and share for those who do. I could imagine many meaningful conversation and connections emerge from that.
0 comment0isachetteover 2 years agoInstall a piano like in certain streets of Montreal
0 comment2Mel Bover 2 years agoPatios, sitting places, limiting vehicles through the space, mix of commercial and residential spaces
Lagos, Portugal
0 comment2
Follow Project
Life Cycle
-
Survey open
A pedestrian-first Gaukel Street has finished this stageShare your ideas and priorities for a pedestrian-first Gaukel Street.
-
Survey under review
A pedestrian-first Gaukel Street has finished this stageIdeas are being considered and incorporated into plans to source materials and develop a street layout.
-
Phase 1 Transformation: Joseph to Charles (Summer 2020)
A pedestrian-first Gaukel Street is currently at this stageThe first phase of the project will transform Joseph to Charles to a pedestrian and public space, available for informal use and public programming.
-
Phase 2 Transformation: Charles to King
this is an upcoming stage for A pedestrian-first Gaukel StreetThe remaining portion of Gaukel Street is transformed following the completion of Charlie West construction staging, estimated to be in 2022.
Document Library
Who's listening
-
Phone 519-741-2200 ext 7314 Email darren.kropf@kitchener.ca -
Residents, business owners and staff
GS