City of Regina staff recommend Scarth Street Mall remain pedestrian-only

A project meant to help revitalize downtown Regina is one step closer to becoming reality. 

The City of Regina released its proposed vision for the future of Scarth Street Mall this week and, despite initial proposals, this vision does not re-introduce vehicles to what is currently a pedestrian walkway. 

F.W. Hill Mall, commonly called Scarth Street Mall, has been pedestrian-only for nearly 50 years.

Now, city staff say that the outcome of "extensive public engagement, detailed technical analysis and a thorough review of best practices from other Canadian cities" is that the city keep it that way. 

"The vision is a space that people can visit, make a part of their activity that they do when they come downtown, where it's kind of a really important corridor," said Kim Sare, a senior planner with the City of Regina. 

Previously, city officials had proposed allowing vehicles and extending traffic onto the cobblestone area.

But consultations held this summer saw respondents primarily in favour of keeping the downtown corridor between 11th Avenue and 12th Avenue a pedestrian-only space. 

"It connects some very interesting things in our downtown from the Cornwall Centre, other businesses on 11th Ave., with of course Victoria Park and [Pat Fiacco Plaza], the [central library]," Sare said.

"So we just want it to be elevated as the space where people not only move through it but to take a moment to enjoy a coffee or a lunch and visit the businesses along it." 

WATCH | Change is coming to Scarth Street (from June 2024): 

Change is coming to Regina's Scarth Street downtown, but what do people want?

7 months ago

Duration 1:50

The City of Regina may see opening its only pedestrian walkway to vehicles as an opportunity, but a survey suggests public feedback points to overwhelming resistance to the idea.

Residents are now being invited to view the proposed Scarth Street Mall design and provide feedback on the BeHeard Regina page by Feb. 4. 

Staff will present the vision and conceptual design to city council this spring, and council will make the final decision. 

City staff say the final design will continue to be refined as the project progresses toward construction in 2027.

Revitalizing Scarth Street has been in the works since the start of 2023.

Officials say the infrastructure under the section of the street between 11th Avenue and 12th Avenue needs to be replaced and that will mean tearing up the pathway's iconic cobblestones. 

And while construction was initially projected to start in 2024, that did not happen. Decisions made during the 2024 budget pushed back construction of the project.

Currently, construction is not scheduled to begin until at least 2027.