Public Board of Directors Meeting

The NCC Board of Directors has endorsed the construction of a new park located at the Kruger complex in Gatineau. As part of a 2017 real estate agreement with the NCC, Kruger Products will fund the park’s design and construction. Before construction begins, the site will undergo soil remediation to address contamination.

This new park will enhance the area’s green space and better connect Confederation Boulevard to the Voyageurs Pathway along the Ottawa River shoreline. Once completed, the park will feature universally accessible pathways and seating areas, multiple entrances and native trees and shrubs.

Construction should begin this spring. The park is expected to open in 2026.

The Board of Directors viewed a presentation on improvements to NCC trail information to include more precise data on accessibility features and obstacles.

The NCC is preparing to launch a web app with detailed trail information to help users determine if a trail is accessible to them. The app will initially cover 11.8 km on six popular trails in the Greenbelt and Gatineau Park. The NCC worked with users with mobility impairments who inspected the trails and provided feedback that led to improvements in some trail features.

The app will include details like:

• 360-degree trail photos
• Trail length and width
• Surface type
• Trail grade
• Choke points and obstacles
• Slopes
• Services at trailheads (i.e. parking, toilets, etc.)

The NCC manages hundreds of kilometres of trails in the National Capital Region. It will continue to increase their accessibility where changes are possible.

This initiative, identified in the NCC’s Accessibility Plan (2023–2026), is a collaborative effort with the Canadian Disabled Outdoor Society (CanDO) and the NCC’s Advisory Committee on Universal Accessibility.

The Board of Directors received an update on the National Capital Core Area Plan. The National Capital Core Area Plan is the NCC’s leading land-use policy for the most important federal sites at the centre of the National Capital. The plan that is currently in place was adopted in 2005. We are now reviewing the plan to adapt it to current needs as we consider new priorities and challenges.

The updated plan will have a planning horizon of approximately 20 years.

The National Capital Core Area Plan covers 12 km2 of land in downtown Ottawa and Gatineau. It is the hub of the National Capital Region, and features nationally significant sites, public spaces, institutions and landmarks.