Welcome to the Wyndham Street North Virtual Open House

Welcome to the virtual open house for the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program (DTIRP). The purpose of this virtual open house is to:

• Share information about the DTIRP, and specifically the renewal of Wyndham St. N., including St. George’s Square.
• Share concept designs for Wyndham St. N. and St. George’s Square.
• Hear your preferences and ideas about these designs.

Let us take time to reflect on our privilege to live and work in Guelph; a city built over rich Indigenous histories. We are guests here, and we should reflect upon the responsibility to care for this land, the people who live here today, and the generations to come. If our actions today can move us towards reconciliation, we should take pause and make those decisions with intention and gratitude.

This place we call Guelph has served as traditional lands and a place of refuge for many peoples over time, but more specifically the Attiwonderonk, and the Haudenosaunee. This land is held as the treaty lands and territory with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Guelph lies directly adjacent to the Haldimand Tract and is part of a long-established traditional hunting ground for the Six Nations of the Grand River. Many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples who have come from across Turtle Island call Guelph home today.

To learn more about the land acknowledgement, its context and intent, please visit City of Guelph Territorial Acknowledgement.

The study area is focused on Wyndham Street North from Farquhar Street to Woolwich Street and includes St. George’s Square in the middle.

An overhead aerial photo of Downtown Guelph centered on Wyndham St. N. The study area is outlined in red and runs from Farquhar St. in the south to Woolwich St. in the north.

Following the Wyndham Street Municipal Class EA (2023), the typical cross-section for the corridor is changed to a two-lane configuration with uni-directional cycle track on either side of the roadway.

A design of a typical cross section of the functional street design for Wyndham St. N. between Woolwich and Douglas Streets. The design spans the width of the street from building property line across Wyndham St. N. to the next property line. The key features of the design from building to the middle of the road include a sidewalk, a furnishing zone, a cycle track, a buffer then a concrete band before a parking lane, a curb, then the vehicular through lane.

Other key features of the updated design include:

• Parallel parking delineated by curb bump outs
• Removal of parking within St. George’s Square
• Permanent loading/unloading zones identified within the Downtown
• Bus pads and bus shelters included in the streetscape
• Removing turn lanes at Quebec Street

In the St. George’s Square Wyndham-Quebec-Douglas intersection, there are minor changes such as the reduction of lanes, but the overall configuration stays similar to the existing layout. Additional changes were applied, as the design progressed, such as removing the left-turn lane at St. George Square, as well as no parking allotted in St. George Square. Truck loading zones were added to facilitate local business operations.

Click on the images below to enlarge the functional design for Wyndham Street North. The plan has been split into three sections to make it easier to view.

The functional design plan for the Wyndham St. N. study area from Woolwich St. to Farquhar St.. The plan includes details of the Woolwich and Wyndham Street intersection including turning lanes, through lanes, medians, and curb radii at each corner. It also shows the Douglas-Quebec-Wyndham intersection, the Cork-Wyndham intersection, St. George’s Square, and details of the Macdonell and Wyndham Street intersection including turning lanes, through lanes, and curb radii at each corner. Colour coded sections outline the street cross section details such as sidewalks, furnishing zones (for trees, planters, seating and patios), cycle track, transit stops, loading zones and parking areas.

This streetscape design aims to create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly environment that enhances the urban experience while promoting a space that is shared by all modes of transportation. The design focuses on creating a flexible street design that can adapt for events or everyday activities. Key features include wide, accessible sidewalks lined with a mix of perennial plantings, decorative planters, and trees to provide shade. The streetscape is designed with a balance of hardscape surfaces like textured paving, with seating areas and bike racks, complemented by softscape elements that contribute to an inviting atmosphere (for example trees and flowers). The attention to the selection of materials ensures durability, ease of maintenance, and an aesthetic that aligns with the character of the surrounding architecture and heritage.

The 3D image of the Wyndham St. N. cross section provides an idea of how the typical cross section will look when completed. It includes sidewalks, furnishing areas (planters, trees, waste receptacles, seating areas, cycle track, buffer zone between the cycle track and parking, cross walk and traffic lanes.

Click on the images below to view detailed streetscape plans for Wyndham Street North. These images show the north and south part of Wyndham St. N., the detail design for St. George’s Square is on the next tab.

Please indicate your thoughts about the following concept elements.

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.

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.

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.

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