Historical page
This page reproduces what a municipal website said at the time. It is not an official City of Dauphin page, and the plans and programs may have changed or ended.
Downtown revitalization is a key strategic priority for the City of Dauphin's Economic Development & Tourism Board. To focus and formalise work in this area, a Downtown Development Committee made up of business representatives was formed in 2014 as a subcommittee of the Board.
Among the downtown revitalization priority areas the committee identified:
- Attracting development, commercial tenants and residents
- Providing reasons for people to spend time downtown
A multi-year streetscape program
We've seen many changes and improvements downtown over the past few years: new businesses, new construction, improved rental housing and additional parking. Now Council has approved a multi-year streetscape enhancement program and is encouraging committees of Council and other community organisations to focus projects on the downtown.
In 2015, the Downtown Development Committee hired a Winnipeg planning and design firm to recommend a downtown streetscape enhancement initiative. Downtown businesses were invited to take part in the consultation and collaborate on the initiative. Their input and the consultant's experience shaped a multi-year plan.
The City also bought a vacant downtown lot and turned it into a gravel parking lot for public use.
Design elements
There isn't a theme, but a set of design elements that can be used in public spaces, and that businesses can also use as a coordinated element. They include warm woods (for example, a traditional cherry wood stain) and black and/or graphite metals.
The new bike racks are black metal, the street lights are being painted black with new LED tops from Manitoba Hydro, and the new benches will be black metal with warm wood seats.
Projects
- Gateway signs welcoming visitors to the downtown from the south and north
- Light standard upgrades: new LED tops and posts painted black
- New dual-stream garbage and recycling containers
- Bump-out park preparation for new benches and other upgrades, to be completed in 2017
- A signalled crosswalk on Main Street North at 4th Avenue
- A traffic study at Main Street South and 1st Avenue South
- Bike racks in the downtown area
- A passenger warming shelter for VIA Rail passengers
Proposed for 2017 and beyond
- Staining existing wooden structures, like the fences along Main Street and the railway tracks, to match the design elements
- Rejuvenated gardens at the original CN Station location in CN Park
- Replacing the interpretive signage in CN Park