Sorry for the long delay since my last update. The Gaukel Greenway idea is very
much alive and well, here is what’s been happening in the past month or so:
1. On June 17th, Kitchener city council voted to support the Gaukel Greenway.
The approved motion comes with two basic parts: first, staff will prepare a
report with recommedations on how to close the street to cars. (I wish they
would have just voted to close it, but they wanted staff to consider all the
factors before committing).
Secondly, transportation planning staff have been directed to form a working
group to plan the details of how Gaukel Greenway should be implemented. I’ve
heard from Barry Cronkite, manager of transportation planning, that the wheels
are already in motion to assemble this working group. I hope to hear more soon!
2. Our grant application for a pop-up park on Gaukel Street is still being
considered, and we can expect to hear back in the next couple weeks. Are you
interested in planning this event? Let me know! If we get enough funding, it
will happen in the last weekend of September.
3. On July 9, Melissa and I will be speaking to the Kitchener Cycling and
Trails Committee about Gaukel Greenway. I hope this committee is included in
the working group!
4. This Monday at 10am, I will be on the radio talking about Gaukel Greenway on
the CKMS Community Connections show
(https://radiowaterloo.ca/category/ckms-community-connections/?tag=about).
Catch the interview on-air at 102.7 FM.
—-
That’s a lot to celebrate, and a few things to look forward to! Our next
milestones include waiting for the grant application result, seeing how the
working group shapes up, and keeping tabs on that upcoming staff report to
council.
Cheers,
Sam
