Experience the City

Decision 7: Experience the city

Some of your friends are coming to visit for the weekend and they’ve asked you to show them around. You start to think about the places you want to bring them - showing off the best of what Kitchener has to offer. Where is the first place you’ll go?

  • 🔼Triangle

    You stay local and take them on a walking tour of your neighbourhood—through the park, down a leafy street where some new homes are starting to pop up, and into a cozy café in a converted house down the block.

  • ⏺️Circle

    You take transit to a nearby main street where there’s a little bit of everything— food, shops, trails, and a fun, local vibe. You grab dinner at the food hall next to the transit hub and catch a performance at the new community art centre.

  • ⏹️Square

    You visit the weekend farm and artisan market, enjoy some patio time, and catch a pop-up performance in the new neighbourhood plaza.


Making informed decisions

Vibrant public spaces give people a reason to explore. These places are part of what makes neighbourhoods feel reflective of their residents—and they contribute to local pride, economic activity, and cultural identity. As Kitchener grows, it’s important to create places that showcase what makes our communities special, support the local economy, invite people to linger, and discover something new.

Key considerations include:

Having a mix of experiences across the city ensures there’s something for different interests, ages, and mobility needs. It also spreads the benefits of public investment more equitably, so all neighbourhoods feel they have something worth showing off.

Main streets can offer lots to see and do, but they may be busier or feel less personal than quieter local spots. Investments in these areas can attract more people and businesses but may bring changes (e.g. affordability.) Neighbourhood plazas can become vibrant community hubs, but they need the right mix of housing, services, and amenities to thrive. Supporting them often means focusing growth in specific areas, which can leave other parts of the city feeling unchanged or overlooked. Smaller, local experiences can offer a sense of familiarity and authenticity, but they may have fewer options and require more people living within neighbourhoods to stay open, active, and accessible to all.