Students Lindsay Hamilton and Hannah Reimer-Normore present Coun. Clive Doucet with their Lansdowne project design.
Ottawa elementary school students recently had their say on the City of Ottawa’s redesign of Lansdowne Park.
Hopewell Avenue Public School students showed off their eco-friendly design proposals at a public showing, hoping to influence the proposed project.
Grade four and five French immersion students created the designs for a class project.
The school’s English teacher, Jennifer Thiessen, says all the projects had a few common themes.
“The environment was the biggest theme. Increasing the amount of outdoor sports was another,” she says. “But I also found that the students really thought about all age groups.
They wanted to include activities and businesses that involved children and teenagers, as well as seniors.”
Some students want more fun and games at Lansdowne Park.
“We want a new movie theatre, with plenty of concession stands, and an arcade, as well as more restaurants, like New York Fries and Tim Hortons,” says nine-year-old Nicholas Narda.
His project design featured a compact parking lot, so there was room for stores like Lululemon Athletica and Chapters.
Other students wished for a park more oriented towards physical fitness.
“I wish there was a summer bike track that could be converted to a winter cross country ski trail,” says Sarah Atkins. Her project design featured a skating rink, tennis courts, indoor rock climbing and downhill skiing.
“I just want more things that will keep people fit, because obesity is an issue in Canada,” she says.
Some students thought the environment was more essential.
“A light rail system heading downtown would really save gas and time,” says Sara Raheemi. “It would also help disabled people get around Ottawa faster,” she says.
Capital Ward Coun. Clive Doucet says he enjoyed the event.
“I like the design competition. You have to realize what the kids think. They’ve got waterslides and fountains and many other things for different age groups, not tailored to old guys like me,” he says.
“That’s what a design competition is about. There’s a lot of stuff here that I would have never thought about."
School principal Nicole Turpin agrees.
“I think it is important that since the kids live in this area, they need to be talking about something that is connected to their world.
These three dimensional plans really get kids talking about something that is important to them,” she says.
Narda would like a new movie theatre in the area, so he could see action movies on a big screen.
“I think the Mayfair theatre is okay, but it is too small. If Lansdowne had a huge theatre with more food and candy, with expandable, cushioned seats, more people would go to see movies there,” he says.
Doucet says he thinks the students have some great space-conscious ideas.
“The design of the parking lot at Lansdowne Park is not a very good use of space, and I have seen some interesting ideas on how to improve it,” he says.
Narda says a more compact parking lot could encourage people to walk, bike or take the bus.
"Plus, there would be more room for a playground," he says with a laugh.