IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Silver Springs values being a safe, walkable, beautiful and family-friendly neighbourhood.

Residents outlined what was important to them, focusing on the themes of people, places, programs and possibilities. The City worked with residents to identify projects that would support the vision and be possible in their neighbourhood, and then residents prioritized the projects.

These projects will bring the community together with outdoor gathering spaces, block parties, and playgrounds. Residents will also be encouraged to explore their neighbourhood thanks to distance markers and games painted on the pathways, the creation of a neighbourhood walking program, and dog waste dispensers installed at the Community Garden.

The following is a summary of programs, services and/or small-scale infrastructure improvements the City of Calgary will implement in partnership with residents of Silver Springs:

Improvement Project Project Details Target Completion Date
Outdoor Gathering Space Gathering spaces bring people together and provide an opportunity for neighbours to connect while building upon their sense of involvement in a vibrant neighbourhood. Fall 2018
Community Block Parties Social events provide opportunities for residents to get to know each other and feel connected to the community. Summer 2018
Playground Enhancements Providing accessible recreational equipment and opportunities contributes to an active and healthy community. Subject to a feasibility study and timeline review. Fall 2018
Flower planter boxes at community entrances Planter boxes with flowers at community entrances contribute to beautification and neighbourhood pride. Summer 2018
Neighbourhood walking Program A neighbourhood daytime and/or evening walking program to encourage residents to be active and feel connected to the community. Summer 2018
Community Communication Plan The development of a communication plan for the neighbourhood will allows for residents to be better informed and engaged. This can result in more connections between the community association and residents for better delivery of programs and services. Fall 2018
Dog Waste bags Install dog waste dispensers at Community Garden Site. Fall 2018
Community Open House Day A Community Open House Day in the neighbourhood offers opportunities for residents to connect with their neighbours and to learn about various programs and services, Fair Entry and other initiatives and events in the community. Fall 2018
Install Distance Markers & Active Stencils on Pathways Painted designs on pathway systems and school asphalt to encourage fun, playful activities for all ages. For example: hopscotch, circle maze, four square Summer 2018
Public Art An artist will work with the community to develop utility box painting. Public art contributes to the beautification of the neighbourhood. Residents enjoy their public spaces more and feel a greater sense of community pride and connection when they view the artwork they influenced. Summer 2018

INITIATIVES IN PROGRESS

Below is a list of projects that residents mentioned to us, some are currently underway and fit within your neighbourhood vision some are not possible for The City to do as part of this program and we want to tell you why.

Responsible Pet ownership on parks and pathways - City Parks and Bylaw to work together on signage for on leash areas. Please refer to the Parks and Pathways Bylaws for more information.

Safety Initiative - A safety education workshop and/or campaign provided community partnering with the Calgary Police Services builds community awareness around home and public safety, as well as addressing crime reporting challenges. This helps to increase social resiliency and a sense of investment in the neighbourhood.

P.U.P.P.Y. (Pick Up Pooch’s Poo Yourself) - A free City-led information session on proper pet ownership and pet safety. Find more information here

We also heard the following were identified as a priority for your neighbourhood, however these are out of scope for This is my neighbourhood:

Add a pedestrian/bicycle bridge connecting Silver Springs Road across Nose Hill Drive - This is a high cost project and exceeds the timelines of This is my neighbourhood.

ENGAGEMENT RESULTS

ENGAGEMENT RESULTS

Thank you to everyone who participated and shared ideas with us, the public engagement is now closed. The initiatives will begin implementation in 2018. A full summary report of everything we heard during the engagement can be found here. For What We Heard reports for each of the engagement phases see below.

Prioritization

The report of what we heard when Silver Springs residents prioritized initiatives created at the idea workshops to make their vision a reality is available here.

Idea workshops

The report of what we heard during the Silver Springs idea workshops is available here.

Vision Poll

The vision statement for Silver Springs is: Silver Springs values being a safe, walkable, beautiful and family-friendly neighbourhood.

Vision Words

Thanks to everyone who provided input into the neighbourhood vision words. All the ideas you provided can be found in the what we heard report.

PAST ENGAGEMENT

After working with residents and City staff to come up with ideas for possible initiatives, we asked for your input on which of the following initiatives would have the most impact on achieving the neighbourhood vision. This engagement was open for input in March 2018.

1. Playground enhancements

Providing accessible recreational equipment and opportunities contributes to an active and healthy community. This project is dependent on a feasibility study and timelines.

Projected cost: $5,000-$20,000


1b) If this initiative were to go forward, what would be your top preferred option for playground enhancements?

2. Adding a storage shed and/or little free library to the existing edible garden.

Enhancing this gathering space can encourage people to come together and enjoy community life.

Project based on feasibility and timelines

Projected Cost: $5,000-$20,000


3. Flower planter boxes at community entrances and along the boulevard.

Planter boxes with flowers at community entrances to contribute to beautification and neighbourhood pride.

Projected cost: $1,000


4. Additional dog waste bag dispensers at the community garden sites

Projected cost: $1,000-$2,000



5. Create outdoor gathering space

Well planned gathering spaces encourage people to come together and enjoy community life, while deepening connections and friendships. These relationships contribute to a friendly neighbourhood.

This project is dependent on feasibility study and timelines.

Project Cost: $1,000- $3,000


5b) Tell us which location you think would have the most impact for the neighbourhood.

6. Community Open House Day

A Community Open House Day in the neighbourhood offers opportunities for residents to connect with their neighbours and to learn about various programs and services, Fair Entry and other initiatives and events in the community.

Projected cost: TBD


7. Public Art

An artist would work with the community to develop public art such as a mural, flags and banners or utility box painting.

Public art contributes to the beautification of the neighbourhood. Residents enjoy their public spaces more and feel a greater sense of community pride and connection when they view the artwork they influenced.

Projected cost: $10,000-$15,000

8. Community communication plan

The development of a communication plan for the neighbourhood will allows for residents to be better informed and engaged. This can result in more connections between the community association and residents for better delivery of programs and services.

This would be subject to the commitment from the Community Association to support the development and implementation of the plan.

Projected cost: $5,000-$10,000


9. Community block parties

Social events provide opportunities for residents to get to know each other and feel connected to the community.

If this initiative goes forward we would need community volunteers to make this experiment happen. If you would be interested in volunteering be sure to answer the Volunteering question below and make sure you've signed up for email updates.

Projected cost: $1,000


10. Neighbourhood walking program

A neighbourhood daytime and/or evening walking program to encourage residents to be active and feel connected to the community.

If this initiative goes forward we would need community volunteers to make this experiment happen. If you would be interested in volunteering be sure to answer the Volunteering question below and make sure you've signed up for email updates.

Projected Cost: TBD

11. Experiment for outdoor gathering spaces

Gathering spaces bring people together and provide an opportunity for neighbours to connect while building upon their sense of involvement in a vibrant neighbourhood.

If this initiative goes forward we would need community volunteers to make this experiment happen. If you would be interested in volunteering be sure to answer the Volunteering question below and make sure you've signed up for email updates.

Projected Cost: TBD



12. Install distance markers and active stencils on pathways

Painted designs on pathway systems and school asphalt to encourage fun, playful activities for all ages. For example: hopscotch, circle maze, four square.

Projected cost: $1,000


13) Volunteering

If you are interested in volunteering to support the initiatives below that will help us gauge interest to know if the program should go forward. Please choose the initiatives you would be interested to support (check all that apply). Then be sure to click the link below and sign up for the email updates and watch for emails that ask for volunteer support.

The survey form is now closed. Thanks for your contributions.

From July 10 to October 31 we asked residents in Silver Springs: what would make Silver Springs a better place to live, work and play. They were then asked to choose their top three vision words from a list of word, or add their own, and explain why they chose that word.

The full report of what we heard during this engagement can be found here.

Based on all the feedback, three vision statements were created for Silver Springs and we asked you to tell us which vision statement you like best. See below for results.

This vision will be used in the next step of the engagement when we work with you to come up with initiatives.

Which vision statement do you like best?

This poll has concluded.

  • Silver Springs values being a safe, walkable, beautiful and family-friendly neighbourhood.
    47% (47 votes)
  • Silver Springs values feeling safe in move through the neighbourhood, having infrastructure and destinations that support walkability, the beauty of sustainable surroundings and maintaining and promoting the family-friendly nature of the neighbourhood.
    21% (21 votes)
  • Silver Springs values safe streets and a sense of security, being able to access well-maintained places, spaces and services, and having infrastructure and amenities that support the various stages of life in the neighbourhood.
    33% (33 votes)
Total Votes: 101

YOUR INPUT

In the first round of engagement, we asked the following question.


What would make Silver Springs a better place to live, work and play?

Choose your top three vision words from the list below, or add your own, and tell us why.


• Accessible • Active • Beautiful • Clean • Connected • Diverse

• Family-friendly • Healthy • Inclusive • Safe • Walkable


Select a vision word from the drop down list below:

Select a vision word from the drop down list below:

Select a vision word from the drop down list below:

How did you hear about this engagement opportunity?

The survey form is now closed. Thanks for your contributions.

BACKGROUND

The City created This is my neighbourhood to work with residents to create a community visions that helps guide the delivery of City programs, services and small-scale infrastructure improvements.

This is my neighbourhood began in 2015 with a group of 14 inaugural communities. As part of the This is my neighbourhood program, The City partnered with the first group of neighbourhoods to deliver more than 100 programs, services and small-scale improvement projects that residents requested. Overall, This is my neighbourhood will take place in 28 neighbourhoods over four years from 2015 to 2018.

NEXT STEPS

The initiatives will begin implementation in 2018.