CentreCity

Recycling in the Centre City - A year in reflection

After one year in operation, the Centre City's Clean to the Core newspaper recycling project has shifted from a pilot endeavor to a new operational practice. The program, launched in mid-July 2008, installed 40 newspaper recycling bins along 7th Avenue and nearby blocks. Since that time, over 40,000 kg of newspaper has been recycled, which would have otherwise found its way into city landfills.

Design for Bow River "Peace Bridge" Revealed

After months of anticipation, The City of Calgary has released graphical renderings for the Bow River "Peace Bridge" designed by architect Santiago Calatrava.

Calgary's Best Blocks

Over the next five Sundays, the Calgary Herald will be writing about the best city blocks for "living, working, shopping, culture and recreation". Check out this week's article - "A night filled with curtain calls" by Stephen Hunt - which provides a spotlight on the entertainment block stretching from the Grand, to Beat Niq and the Auburn.

Annual 'State of Centre City' and 'Clean to the Core' reports

Did you know that in 2008 over 3,788 arts events were held in Centre City, or that four main operational plans were enacted through the Centre City Safety Impact Team?

These facts and many more are presented in the inaugural State of Centre City and the third Clean to the Core annual reports that Centre City Implementation presented to The City of Calgary Standing Policy Committee on Land Use Planning and Transportation on July 22 2009.

We're going to Committee!

Centre City Implementation is going to Committee next week, on July 22, to give our annual update on the great work that has been made over the last year in actualizing the vision of Centre City Plan.

At the same time, CCI is releasing the 2008 Clean to the Core report that illustrates The City’s substantial efforts to improve the cleanliness and safety in the downtown.  As well, a pilot State of the Centre City report is being unveiled which provides a comprehensive overview of the growth and change currently underway in the Centre City and how vital that area is to the rest of Calgary.

You can check them both out here, just go to the Council Agenda & Minutes section and look at the upcoming Land use, Planning & Transportation agenda.  

Also, feel free to come down to City Hall and share your thoughts.

CORE-struction Update

 

Collecting Bubbles & Butts

Earlier this spring, The City performed its first litter count along 100 block faces throughout the Centre City to better understand just how clean (or not) downtown streets and alleys really are.  The results revealed that the #1 most commonly found form of litter was cigarette butts. 

As a solution, The City and partnering Business Revitalization Zones (BRZs) decided to place small litter bins in high traffic areas to improve the appearance of these areas. 

 Starting tomorrow, 30 small litter bins (for cigarette butts, gum and small litter) are being placed in areas like the Municipal Plaza, James Short Park, Victoria Crossing, along 17th Ave and elsewhere.

"WARNING" on Downtown Phones

As part of the Clean to the Core program, Focus on Safety, The City and its partner TELUS are initiating a new project this week to remind Calgarians that public telephones are available for legitimate users only and are not to be used for conducting illegal business activities.

A number of months ago, several payphones throughout the Centre City were identified as locations where criminal activity (drug trafficking and prostitution) and social disorder was concentrating. 

Stampede Fireworks

The best video to date of this year's daily Stampede fireworks.

300,000 at '09 Stampede parade

This year's Stampede parade had a few unique additions, including a new float from the United Calgary Chinese Association, 12 miniature horses from Arizona and significant participation from Canada's armed forces, said Jay Barker, chairman of the Stampede Parade Committee.

"It's the kickoff to the greatest outdoor show on earth and it sets the pace for the whole 10 days that are about to follow," he said.

Officials estimate about 300,000 people turned out for this year's event, crowding downtown curbs, Plus 15-walkways and rooftops to catch a glimpse of the spectacle. "Its a cheap form of entertainment and it's family-friendly," said Barker.

Some 5,000 people take part in the parade every year, which was first held in 1912 amid a crowd of only 75,000. This year, 40 floats and marching bands from all over the world joined the festivities.

The rest of Tamara Gignac and Nick Lewis' article from today's Calgary Herald is here.