The City of Windsor is looking for ideas about what to do with the space that was occupied by the old city hall.
Mayor Drew Dilkens said demolition of the old city hall opens up many new opportunities for a new civic square and esplanade.
"I look forward to hosting public consultations soon to formally receive your great ideas for this space," the mayor said. "Imagine a beautiful, tree-lined pedestrian esplanade connecting Windsor City Hall to the river or a new ice rink directly adjacent to our municipal administration building, like they have in Toronto or Kingston."
The mayor added the rink would be open for skating in the winter, but in the summer, it could transform into a water feature where families could bring their children to splash around and cool off. Dilkens said this is only one of several scenarios the city is open to discussing for the New City Hall Square Plaza and Civic Esplanade Project.
City council has approved forming a steering committee made up of five councillors and the mayor to oversee the project.
"I am looking forward to getting your ideas and suggestions for this important civic space soon," Dilkens said.
The committee still needs to set up a project charter and outline the full scope of the design elements, which will have to be approved by council.
"Please start giving some thought to what this space means to you and our city and how you would envision the civic plaza being utilized," added Dilkens.
The mayor said for decades the city has dreamt of having a "cohesive" pedestrian and "visual" link from city hall to the waterfront.
"It will allow us to design a space that is both inviting to the public and representative of our city, a place of pride, a place where people want to be," he added.
