HomeIn working to create a Capital for Canadians, our predecessors have focused strongly on the park and open-space system. The Todd Report of 1903 proposed a region defined by a linked system of parks; they are a means for the Capital to express Canada — a country defined by its landscape. They are also an important part of the "Capital experience" awaiting Canadians who visit their Capital.
- urban parks and green spaces offer majestic views of the waterways and Capital skyline
- they are stages for national festivals and historical displays
- over a million tulips bloom in the spring, with an equal number of annuals in the summer
- the green spaces of the Capital region are linked by some 170 kilometres of recreational pathways, designed for walking, cycling and in-line skating
Yesterday
As early as 1899, pioneer planners sensed that "improvement" of the Capital had to include flower beds and parks, so the Ottawa Improvement Commission (predecessor to the NCC, 1899–1927) established a series of landscaped parks along the Rideau Canal. Since then the NCC has developed many urban parks and green spaces. It also maintains a large amount of federal land as park-like settings for government.
Today
Many urban parks are stages for community and public events, such as Canada Day (July 1) and Winterlude (February), with its focus on the Rideau Canal Skateway. The urban parks are linked to each other and various destinations in the region by recreational pathways.
Tomorrow
Urban lands are developing in accordance with the policies outlined in the Plan for Canada's Capital and the Urban Lands Master Plan. Some exciting developments, outlined in the Core Area Sector Plan, are slated for the near future.
Permits and Regulations
The urban parks belong to the people. However, to protect these resources, public use is controlled by regulations that form part of the National Capital Act. To organize work and activities in urban parks, groups require a land access permit, and members of the public or community groups that want to hold picnics, festivals, sporting events, weddings or other gatherings need a special event permit.
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