Your priorities in action: Creating stronger neighbourhoods

From vibrant public spaces to safer streets and inclusive programming, we are taking meaningful steps to strengthen neighbourhoods across Ottawa.

This feature story is part of the “Your priorities in action” series, highlighting real progress the City is making on improving daily life in Ottawa and delivering its Term of Council priorities. 

Transcript for the "Your priorities in action: Creating stronger neighbourhoods" video We are building stronger neighbourhoods that make everyday life better in Ottawa. We are renewing downtown, creating vibrant public spaces, and supporting arts, culture and local businesses all year long. We are making recreation and cultural programs more inclusive and accessible, so people of all ages and abilities have more opportunities to connect, participate,and stay active. And we are making streets safer with traffic calming measures and investing in sidewalks, pathways and cycling facilities that make it easier to walk, roll, and bike. Together, we are building a safer, more vibrant and more connected Ottawa.

From vibrant public spaces to safer streets and inclusive programming, we are taking meaningful steps to strengthen neighbourhoods across Ottawa.  

A renewed downtown 

We are taking action to build a diverse, resilient and vibrant downtown by investing $18.5 million to revitalize the downtown core and ByWard Market. Through our Downtown Revitalization Framework and Action Plan, we are helping people rediscover downtown by supporting local businesses, improving safety, and creating welcoming places to gather year-round.  

This summer, seasonal activations like ByWard Square, Metcalfe Plaza and Street Seats are bringing downtown to life through dynamic public spaces, local art, cultural programming and live music.   

We also recently launched Ottawa’s first Arts, Culture and Entertainment (ACE) District. This initiative celebrates our city’s cultural assets and experiences while attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, and creating new reasons to experience the downtown core year-round. 

Recreation and culture for everyone  

We are making recreation and cultural programs more inclusive so more residents can stay active, connect and discover new interests. We have expanded French recreation and cultural programming in communities across Ottawa, including at the Kanata Senior Centre. This summer, the Nepean Museum, for the first time, offered children's programs exclusively in French, with all available spaces filled.   

Residents can also access a growing range of free and affordable recreation opportunities across the city, including Play Free swimming, skating and fitness activities, free access to weight and cardio rooms through the Tony Graham Youth Workout Pass program, and free life jacket lending programs at City beaches. 

To help make recreation and culture more accessible for everyone, the City’s Inclusive Recreation unit provides specialized supports and accommodations that enable residents with disabilities to participate in courses and camps. 

Billings Estate National Historic Site is also improving accessibility for blind and low-vision visitors by adding touch elements to exhibits and developing a touch-based tour. 

Safer streets, stronger neighbourhoods 

We are making our streets safer by expanding traffic calming across the city. Last year, we installed over 400 traffic calming devices, helping lower speeds and improve safety in neighbourhoods across Ottawa. We also completed over 50 kilometres of new or reconstructed roads built to a 30 kilometre per hour standard, making it safer and easier to travel around the city. 

We are also investing in Ottawa’s sidewalk and pathway network to support walking and cycling. As of 2025, the City owns and maintains 3,412 kilometres of sidewalks and pathways as well as 294 kilometres of dedicated cycling facilities, helping residents stay connected to their communities and destinations across the city. 

Innovative solutions 

Last year, we launched two successful pilot projects aimed at improving infrastructure access and efficiency in our neighbourhoods.  

Our AI leak detection pilot is helping identify water leaks more proactively. To date, the pilot has supported 17 completed repairs on public infrastructure and identified four leaks on private property.  

Last winter, our hydrant snow clearing pilot successfully kept many fire hydrants clear of snow through community participation. The initiative helped strengthen community involvement while allowing City resources to be deployed more efficiently. 

Together, we are building stronger, safer and more connected communities across Ottawa.  

Background: “Your priorities in action” series  

Over the past three years, the City of Ottawa has been focused on delivering its 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, turning priorities into results that residents can see and feel every day.  

To support the implementation of the plan, the City launched Your city, your ideas: City of Ottawa Service Reviews in 2023, inviting residents to share ideas on how to improve services and find efficiencies. Since then, the City has received thousands of ideas and is making real progress in improving residents’ day-to-day lives. This series is focused on sharing some of these ideas and initiatives.