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St. George’s Square Draft Preferred Concept Design

The draft preferred concept envisions the Square as a public open space designed as an active park with an emphasis towards creating a community space that supports a wide range of opportunities for events and activities. The concept plays off the various landforms and changes in topography that are experienced throughout Guelph, providing this space with a complimentary character and unique experience within the collective open spaces Downtown. The layout prioritizes durability and functionality, featuring paved areas, flexible seating, and open spaces that can be easily transformed to accommodate festivals, performances, markets, and community gatherings. This urban space is an inviting hub for outdoor activities, with ample room for gathering and play, making it a dynamic, year-round destination for people of all ages.

3D overhead image of draft design for St. George’s Square.

Click here to view more 3D images of the Square design

In front of Post Office

In front of Old Quebec Street mall

Southwest plaza

Detailed draft design plan for St. George's Square

Detailed draft design plan for St. George’s Square that includes features to better define the Square such as walkway and banding around the perimeter, decorative paving, and three gateway features at the north and south entries into the Square and at Quebec St. The southwest quadrant includes an open area with a rubberized surface where play elements could be added, seating areas, trees and raised planters, shade structures, and the Big Heart. The post office quadrant includes trees and planters, shade structure with lighting, seating areas, a raised platform for events, and a vertical light feature to illuminate the northwest corner. The Quebec St. Mall quadrant includes the relocated Family Fountain surrounded by seating, a shade structure with washroom facilities, trees and planters and seating. Removable barriers are located at Douglas and Quebec St. to allow for the closure of the Square during events.

Click here for images of potential concept elements

The following images are examples only of what the different elements could look like in the draft preferred concept. These are intended to give a better sense of the look and feel of the concept, and may not be the actual elements used in a final design.

The numbers beside each image refer to their location in the concept above.

1 – Play Area

1 – Play Area

2 – Gateway Features

3 – Vertical Light Columns

4 – Plaza Area

5 - Tree plantings
5 – Tree plantings
7 - Seat steps
7 – Seat steps

8 – Custom Raised Planters

11 - Shade structure with washroom
11 – Shade structure with washroom
12 - Shade structure with seating
12 – Shade structure with lighting

14 – Decorative Paving

15 - Raised platform for events
15 – Raised platform for events

Tell us what you think about the draft preferred concept for St. George’s Square

Construction Planning

As part of the planning phases for this project, the City of Guelph staff reached out to all businesses to determine the preferred pace of construction. Two options were discussed as follows:

1) Keep Wyndham Street open as much as possible, and spread out construction over 3-4 years

  • Less impact for businesses
  • Longer duration

 

2) Full closure of Wyndham Street, proceed with construction in most expedited way possible over two years

  • Greater impact to business
  • Shorter overall disruption along Wyndham St. N. corridor
  • Extended work hours expected (e.g. 4am to 1pm, 6 days per week)

 

Feedback from the business owners indicated a preference for the second option, a faster paced construction, which was endorsed by City Council on September 24, 2024.

The map displays two overlapping areas along Wyndham St. N.. The blue zone from Farquhar St. to Douglas St. will be fully closed between April to September 2026. The yellow zone from Carden St. to Woolwich St. will be fully closed between September 2026 to November 2027.

Construction Timing

The proposed timing for the shorter construction pace is as follows:

Prior to April 2026

  • Natural gas improvements are ongoing
  • Electrical system improvements commencing fall 2025

 
April 2026 – September 2026 (Blue area on map)

  • Full closure of Wyndham Street (Farquhar Street to Douglas Street)
  • Wyndham Street (Douglas Street to Woolwich Street) will remain open to extend parking availability north of St. George’s Square while the Baker Parkade is unfinished

 
September 2026 to November 2027 (Yellow area on map)

  • Full closure of Wyndham Street (Carden Street to Woolwich Street)

Access During Construction

The City of Guelph will make the best efforts to reduce disruption during construction, and ensure that access is available for businesses, residents and visitors to Downtown Guelph.

Key tactics to ensure access are as follows:

  • During construction, Wyndham Street will be fully closed to vehicular traffic.

 

  • The Contractor will be expected to maintain traffic on Macdonell Street across Wyndham Street to maintain bus access to Guelph Central Station.

 

  • Pedestrian access to all businesses must be maintained throughout construction.

 

  • Additional parking will be available on Macdonell Street.

 

  • Businesses will be open through construction, and accessible at all times except for short term disruptions coordinated with the affected businesses.

 

  • All loading and unloading (i.e. deliveries) needs will be met throughout construction.

 

  • Central loading/unloading zones will be established for smaller deliveries. Larger deliveries will be coordinated with the contractor.

 

  • On street parking will be unavailable during construction, however arrangements are being made to provide alternative parking as convenient as possible.

 

  • City has hired a Construction Liaison who will act as a liaison between the contractor and businesses throughout the project. This will include an easily accessible Downtown office.

Thank You

Thank you for taking part in the Wyndham St. virtual open house. Your feedback will assist the project team as they finalize designs for Wyndham St. N. and St. George’s Square. Final designs and more details about construction planning will be presented in Fall 2025, and construction will begin in Spring 2026.

For More Information

If you have further questions about this project, or require additional information, please contact:

Reg Russwurm, Manager, Design and Construction
Engineering and Transportation Services
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 2765
reg.russwurm@guelph.ca

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