Pedestrian-only street pitched for Fredericton

Aproposal to have a pedestrian-only street in downtownFredericton is being discussed as a way to make the city a better place to live.

Ian Letourneau, a self-described "engaged citizen," raised the idea last weekend during Fredericton's Great Gathering, when about 300 people got together at the convention centre to brainstorm.

Queen Street was the top pick for a possible location, based on its popularity during the annual Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival,said Letourneau.

"That's the most obvious answer. There were some other ideas that were thrown around, like part of Carleton. But Queen Street definitely took the most interest," he said.

Other ideas included increasing food security with more community gardens, making the city more bike friendly and better addressing homelessness, said Letourneau.

A centre offering low-cost activities for youthwas also raised by some of the younger delegates, said Coun. Leah Levac, who also participated in the meeting.

"They're looking for what we might call a youth centre, a youth house, where they could host a coffee house if they wanted to, where they could go and play games, but maybe also where there would be supportive adults," she said.

Community art installations with a purpose, such as bike racks with artistic value, were also discussed, as well as ways for citizens to participate in municipal governance discussions and decisions electronically, said Levac.

She plans to pass all of the ideas on to City Hall forconsideration, she said.