Gastown Public Spaces Plan

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Intersection of Water Street and Cambie street with Gastown steamclock in background

On April 22, 2026, Vancouver City Council approved the Gastown Public Spaces Plan [PDF, 45.5 MB], a holistic vision and framework to guide future investment and renewal of Gastown’s streets and public spaces.

In response to Council direction [PDF, 0.2MB] and further direction [PDF, 262 KB], the plan was informed by public engagement in 2023 [PDF, 18.5 MB], learnings from two summer pilot programs testing pedestrian zones on Water Street and other improvements (2024 [PDF, 3 MB] and 2025 [PDF, 25.7 MB]), ongoing partnership with the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), and close collaboration with the Gastown Business Improvement Society.

About the plan

Gastown is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. It is an important heritage district and popular destination in Vancouver. Many of the streets and public spaces in Gastown are in need of repair and rehabilitation. The Gastown Public Spaces Plan sets a long-term vision to strengthen Gastown as a welcoming, people-first neighbourhood that supports local businesses, daily life, cultural expression and public events.

The plan outlines six key directions to guide future work, including:

  • Partnering with local Nations to reflect their histories and cultures in Gastown’s public spaces
  • Enhancing Gastown’s public space network and key gateways, including Maple Tree Square to centre daily life and support businesses
  • Making Water Street a people-first, flexible, multimodal retail corridor that can host events and pedestrian zones
  • Converting Cordova Street in Gastown to permanent two-way traffic with potential extension east to the Powell Overpass
  • Strengthening streetscape character using resilient and accessible materials
  • Improving neighbourhood safety, cleanliness and operations through coordinated City and partner services

Summer 2026 Water Street Pedestrian Zone

The Water Street Pedestrian Zone will return for summer 2026, taking place on Sundays from noon to 8pm between July 5 and September 6, in collaboration with the Gastown Business Improvement Society (GBIS) . The decision follows strong support from summer 2025 surveys, with 84% of public respondents and 81% of business respondents indicating they wanted the Sunday pedestrian zone to return. Programming will be led by the GBIS with City support.

What's next

The City will engage with the community on future improvements as projects advance.

More information about the Gastown Public Spaces Plan is available at vancouver.ca/gastown.

On April 22, 2026, Vancouver City Council approved the Gastown Public Spaces Plan [PDF, 45.5 MB], a holistic vision and framework to guide future investment and renewal of Gastown’s streets and public spaces.

In response to Council direction [PDF, 0.2MB] and further direction [PDF, 262 KB], the plan was informed by public engagement in 2023 [PDF, 18.5 MB], learnings from two summer pilot programs testing pedestrian zones on Water Street and other improvements (2024 [PDF, 3 MB] and 2025 [PDF, 25.7 MB]), ongoing partnership with the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), and close collaboration with the Gastown Business Improvement Society.

About the plan

Gastown is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. It is an important heritage district and popular destination in Vancouver. Many of the streets and public spaces in Gastown are in need of repair and rehabilitation. The Gastown Public Spaces Plan sets a long-term vision to strengthen Gastown as a welcoming, people-first neighbourhood that supports local businesses, daily life, cultural expression and public events.

The plan outlines six key directions to guide future work, including:

  • Partnering with local Nations to reflect their histories and cultures in Gastown’s public spaces
  • Enhancing Gastown’s public space network and key gateways, including Maple Tree Square to centre daily life and support businesses
  • Making Water Street a people-first, flexible, multimodal retail corridor that can host events and pedestrian zones
  • Converting Cordova Street in Gastown to permanent two-way traffic with potential extension east to the Powell Overpass
  • Strengthening streetscape character using resilient and accessible materials
  • Improving neighbourhood safety, cleanliness and operations through coordinated City and partner services

Summer 2026 Water Street Pedestrian Zone

The Water Street Pedestrian Zone will return for summer 2026, taking place on Sundays from noon to 8pm between July 5 and September 6, in collaboration with the Gastown Business Improvement Society (GBIS) . The decision follows strong support from summer 2025 surveys, with 84% of public respondents and 81% of business respondents indicating they wanted the Sunday pedestrian zone to return. Programming will be led by the GBIS with City support.

What's next

The City will engage with the community on future improvements as projects advance.

More information about the Gastown Public Spaces Plan is available at vancouver.ca/gastown.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Share your feedback about the 2025 Gastown Summer Pilot

    This summer we are testing public space and transportation changes that will help shape future upgrades and programming in Gastown.

    Take our survey and share your experience of the neighbourhood changes. Your input will help us understand people’s experience of the public space and transportation changes in Gastown this summer. It will also help inform future planning and investments.  

    This survey will be open until end of day September 7.

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  • This survey is now closed. Thank you for your input. All of the feedback and data gathered from this summer's pilot will be analyzed by staff and these learnings will be presented to Council later this fall.

    Share your feedback about the 2024 Water Street Pedestrian Zone

    The Water Street Pedestrian Zone Pilot is a chance to learn about the experience of pedestrianizing Water Street. This summer, City staff will learn through: 

    Studies and observations  

    • Traffic changes (vehicle, bike, walking, transit)  
    • Public life observations and site visits   
    • Economic impact study (consumer spending trends and point of sales data)  
    Listening to feedback  
    • Shape Your City survey (this survey)  
    • Intercept survey   
    • Business-specific survey   
    • Design workshop   
    • 311 cases and emails   
    • Door knocking to check-in with storefronts   
    • Community pop-ups 

    What we learn will help shape a long-term vision for pedestrianizing Water Street, as part of the Gastown Public Spaces Plan. It will also help to plan future pedestrian zones. 

    This survey will be open until end of day September 2. 

    Share Share your feedback about the 2024 Water Street Pedestrian Zone on Facebook Share Share your feedback about the 2024 Water Street Pedestrian Zone on Twitter Share Share your feedback about the 2024 Water Street Pedestrian Zone on Linkedin Email Share your feedback about the 2024 Water Street Pedestrian Zone link
Page last updated: 13 May 2026, 04:19 PM