Great ideas! Keep them coming.

We have received 44 ideas in the “What is your idea?” suggestion box since the Get Involved engagement platform was launched in October, 2017.

All the submitted ideas are sent directly to the City of Kingston staff members who can put them forward to be considered for addition to the City’s work plan. Sometimes, the ideas submitted are already underway! Here’s how the City has responded to some of your ideas:

1. Jenny’s idea: The city needs a comprehensive plan to deal with opioid addiction and overdose starting with the distribution of naloxone kits and training.

Response: On Feb. 1, 2018, the City announced that naloxone kits are available at City facilities. A public information session offering free take-home nasal spray naloxone kits and training was held on Feb. 14 at Kingston, Frontenac Public Health’s main office.

2. Leah Carey’s idea: Lights at dog parks.

Response: Solar lights have been installed in the dog parks in Rotary Park, the Memorial Centre and Maclean Trail Park.

3. James Bain’s idea: A 50m pool and sports complex.

Response: The City is working on its Recreation Master Plan in 2018. It will look at each section of its recreational offerings (arenas, aquatics, community centres, etc.) and complete a needs assessment balanced against current and future requirements. There will be several opportunities to receive input from the public during this recreation planning.

4. PBKING’s idea: West-end Pickleball

Response: The City is planning a number of improvements in Pickleball in its upcoming Recreation Master Plan, including: upgrading courts, looking at dedicated courts and, possibly, public community tennis and Pickleball court clubs. The west-end service level and distribution will be part of that conversation. In the meantime, you are welcome to use the shared tennis and Pickleball courts at Bayridge Park. FYI: a dedicated Pickleball facility is also being explored for the Belle Park Master Plan.

5. CityFan’s idea: Expanding the trail and installing bridges and rest areas in Butternut Creek Park.

Response: The suggestions have been noted for future consideration in long-range planning. Butternut Creek’s watercourse and surrounding floodplain is a particularly sensitive area regulated by the conservation authority.

6. Jamesostler’s idea: Install solar lighting from the Richardson Beach House to the Gord Downie Pier.

Response: Breakwater Park and the Gord Edgar Downie Pier are currently being renovated and new lights will be installed as part of that project. When Macdonald Park gets renovated in the future it may see similar light upgrades. The City’s waterfront park improvements are being made over time as outlined in the City’s Waterfront Master Plan.

7. Barkardi’s idea: Put bike lanes on widened sidewalks instead of roads.

Response: Under the Highway Traffic Act a bicycle is considered a vehicle and they are allowed to operate on roadways like any other motor vehicle. A City-wide active transportation master plan – Walk’n’Roll – is being developed, which will provide recommendations for new infrastructure, programs and policies that will help support walking and cycling in the City. For cyclists, the City will look at building more separated facilities, such as in-boulevard trails, cycle tracks and buffered bike lanes on higher volume roadways in order to encourage more people to cycle who are not as comfortable travelling on road with vehicles. In-boulevard trails are very much what you have suggested – a pathway wide enough for the use of both cyclists and pedestrians.