A pilot project for a drinking fountain in the downtown Galt area of Cambridge has morphed into a bigger project. Once linked to the $200,000 paver project around city hall, which will see walking areas around the city hall campus being repaved, the new concept design for a revamped McIntyre Square will see the fountain as its centrepiece. McIntyre Square sits between old city hall and parking lot for the Cambridge Farmers Market.
The concept design was unveiled Monday to the Cambridge Accessibility Advisory Committee, as the fountain pilot project and square redesign has been in their court for approval and recommendations before heading to council in the new year. The new look square will see the fountain tucked in the inlet between the two existing benches and in front of a stone retaining wall, with 2.4 metres of space around the fountain for easy accessibility for people who require it, as well as pedestrians and cyclists.
Tucking the fountain into the inlet, said David Duhan, of Shift Landscape Architecture, will free up a three-metre walkway flanking old city hall. The walkway will have different paving, with talk of having a different colour paving in line with the old city hall windows. New trees would be planted along the walkway, close to the parking lot, while accessibility parking spots would be on either side of a curb cut-out that leads right to the fountain.
Duhan said they are still investigating surface areas for the plaza that would keep with the character .