What we heard

Why we engaged

The City sought feedback on the design of Frontenac Street Parkette, located at 575 Princess Street (northwest corner of Princess and Frontenac Streets).

Planned improvements could include an urban gathering space, seating elements, pedestrian connections and natural elements such as trees and plantings or groundcovers. The construction budget is approximately $200K.

How we engaged

Public engagement took place at the Inform and Consult levels of the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation. An online survey was open on Get Involved Kingston from Feb. 14 until March 9 2025. An option to submit feedback via email, mail or phone was also available. The engagement opportunities were promoted in a variety of ways, including :

  • Facebook event
  • Social Media posts
  • Get Involved Kingston newsletter
  • Signs placed on site

Who we heard from

  • 7 engaged participants completed the survey
  • 517 aware participants visited the webpage to learn more about the project
  • 1 participant engaged with the City for the first time on Get Involved Kingston

What we heard

Overall, respondents emphasize a desire for trees and shrubs to be part of the parkette design. Most respondents see it as functioning as a place to rest and gather, and many offered considerations for the design in text comments. Below is a summary of survey responses.

Question 1: Function of Parkette

Respondents ranked the functions of the parkette in the following order, from most to least important:

Function of Parkette Average Rank
Rest stop 2.50
Gathering space 2.80
Meeting place 3.00
Contemplative space 3.00
Refuge 3.75
Eating area 4.25
Waiting area 4.50


Question 2: Components

Respondents ranked the components of the parkette in the following order, from most to least important:

Components of Parkette Average Rank
Trees and shrubs 1.43
Shade opportunity 2.50
Lighting 3.00
Seating opportunities 3.40
Planters 4.00
Garbage and recycling container 4.80
Paved area(s) 6.33


Question 3: Usage

Half of the respondents (50%) answered that they would visit the parkette “in the evening,” some (37.5%) said they would visit “in the afternoon,” with only 12.5% answering “in the morning.”

Graphic showing answers for the question "When do you anticipate you might regularly visit the parkette?" 1 response for "in the morning" 3 for "in the afternoon and 4 for "in the evening"

Figure A: Question 3 survey responses

Question 4: Additional Comments

Feedback received is mostly supportive of the parkette, with some suggestions and concerns identified. The following is a summary of comment themes :

  • Traffic Concerns: Suggestions for road features to improve pedestrian safety.
  • Budget: Curiosity about budget amount and suggestions for allocation of funds to specific amenities (chess table, tree, garbage cans).
  • Maintenance: Emphasis on long-term maintenance in the parkette’s design and operation.
  • Native Plants: Appreciation for the use of native plants that are suited for local conditions.
  • Size and Functionality: Criticism of lot size and questioning of functionality beyond a cut-through for pedestrians.
  • Green Streets Concepts: Recommendations to incorporate “Green Streets” concepts, water infiltration and prioritization of active transportation.

Next Steps

Feedback from this public engagement has been shared with the project team for review.

The parkette design is expected to be completed in Summer 2025, with construction anticipated to start in Fall 2025.