Downtown Plaza
Introduction
The City of Sault Ste. Marie is developing a plan for a Civic Plaza in the downtown core. It will be a four-season destination full of exciting activities for all ages and ability levels.
Downtown Plaza Concept – Bird’s Eye View
About the Project
The development of a Public Plaza in downtown Sault Ste. Marie presents a unique opportunity to create a vital community hub. The intention for this place is to be nothing less than an extraordinary, four-season public plaza that is at once a place of celebration and a place for the everyday. The plaza is to be full of activities that draw users throughout the year and across all ages and ability levels. The Plaza design process began with growing awareness in the community of the importance of activity-based destinations in the downtown. The project aligns with the
City of Sault Ste. Marie’s 2016 Downtown Strategy and established key objectives to animate and rejuvenate the downtown. The new Downtown Civic Plaza will be a critical piece in helping to realize this strategy.
Located at 526 Bay Street, the Plaza will contain a series of elements, including:
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Skating Rink and water feature
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Flexible event / gathering area
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Stage with outdoor screen
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Play Zone
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Lighting Displays
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Public washrooms and change area
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Seating
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Trees and planting beds
Project Status
The project is currently under construction with construction expected to be completed in the Fall of 2023. For details pertaining to the original concept design,
click here for a video presentation and
here for a PDF version of the presentation.
Downtown Plaza Donations and Fundraising
The downtown plaza has benefited significantly from generous donations by local businesses and community development organizations. Over $1.2M, an unprecedented amount for a municipal project, has been raised. The list of donors includes:
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Tourism Sault Ste. Marie - $250,000
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Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation - $250,000
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Rotary Club - $200,000
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Williams & McDaniel - $200,000
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To be Announed - $150,000
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Soo Mill - $50,000
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TD Bank - $25,000
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Tenaris - $20,000
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To Be Announced - $20,000
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USW 2724 - $20,000
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Tulloch Engineering - $10,000
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Kresin Engineering - $5,000
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Northern Credit Union - $5,000
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Steel Speed - $5,000
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Mayors Youth Advisory Committee - $5,000
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Aecom - $5,000
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Canadian Banknote Corporation - $2,500
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Gary Trembinski - $2,000
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Redmond Family - $2,000
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Your Neighbourhood Credit Union - $2,000
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RBC - $1,500
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Evolugen - $1,500
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Galinis Family - $50
In addition, the downtown plaza has benefited from contributions from the Federal and Provincial governments including:
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FedNor - $500,0000
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Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs - $250,000
Downtown Plaza Consultation Summary
The project team conducted a range of engagement sessions for the conceptual development of the Downtown Plaza. The engagement sessions included a presentation to Council, a collaborative meeting with the Downtown Association, two public Zoom sessions and an online survey.
Please follow the below link to view a summary of the engagement sessions.
Engagement Summary