Building a Downtown that's accessible for everyone!

Have you noticed the big changes in Downtown Paris? The Downtown Dig isn't just about new pipes and pavement; it's about making our historic core inclusive and easy to navigate for every resident and visitor!

Here are the key accessibility features being built into our new streetscape:

• Wider Sidewalks: We're creating significantly more room for pedestrians, allowing for smoother flow and easier navigation for those using mobility aids or strollers.
• New Rollover Curbs: These sloped curbs create a gradual, seamless transition between the sidewalk and the street. This prevents wheels from getting stuck and ensures a safer crossing for everyone.
• Level Access: Construction efforts are focusing on making the street flatter and matching the grade of the sidewalks to business entrances wherever possible. The County offers funding to assist downtown businesses to support accessible entrances.
• Accessible Parking and Loading: Look for newly designated accessible parking spaces in key areas and dedicated loading zones to make visiting your favourite shops even easier.
• Enhanced Safety: New streetlights and raised concrete crosswalks are being installed to improve visibility and pedestrian safety day and night.
• Safety for the Visually Impaired: Tactile plates, featuring raised domes, provide a "tactile" warning underfoot or via a cane, alerting pedestrians with vision loss that they are approaching a road crossing or a change in elevation.
• Accessible Pedestrian Signals: These standardized sounds help pedestrians with vision loss identify which direction has the right-of-way at the intersection of Grand River St N and William St.
• Colour Contrast: New brickwork and concrete finishes are chosen to provide visual distinction between pedestrian zones, seating areas, and vehicle lanes helping those with low visibility.
• Rest Areas: New benches and seating clusters are being installed along the widened sidewalks of Grand River Street North. Rest areas are designed to be set back from the main flow of traffic, ensuring that those using strollers or assistive devices have ample room to bypass. The addition of a new tree canopy and planter boxes will provide shaded rest spots, improving comfort during warmer months.

Thank you for your patience as we build a more vibrant, functional, and accessible Paris for the next 75 years!