Public Realm Investment Program

Submissions for the 2024 Public Realm Investment Program are open.

Apply for the Public Realm Investment Program

Established in 2016, the Public Realm Investment Program enables Niagara Region to partner and support local municipalities on capital projects that provide important public enhancements across 250 kilometres of Regional roads.

The enhancement of streetscapes attracts investment and creates vibrant public spaces that sustain businesses, improve transportation and celebrate community. People enjoy well-designed places that are inclusive and accessible. Attractive and vibrant places offer a higher quality of life to residents and visitors.

The program offers funding for over 40 different enhancements in categories such as:

• Hardscaping
• Complete streets infrastructure
• Road crossing measures
• Street furniture
• Landscaping
• Community identity and wayfinding
• Environmental sustainability

Summary of funding partnerships and contributions

• 2024

  Fort Erie
  Contribution to improvements at Lions Sugarbowl Park. Install trees along Gilmore Road (Regional Road 19) and construct a gateway feature to the park. ($20,000)

  Lincoln
  Contribution to Sho'aríshon Park to celebrate Niagara's Indigenous heritage and culture. The redevelopment will include hardscaping, furniture and shelter structures. The funding complements the 2020 contribution. ($97,500)

  Niagara Falls
  Contribution to the OPG Canal Trailhead improvements to complement the Region's bridge replacement. Funding will be devoted to planting, hardscape, placemaking elements and seating. ($54,000)

  Pelham
  Contribution to tree planting along the stormwater pond at Highway 20 and Rice Road (Regional Road 54). A concrete multi-use path connecting the Rice Road and Highway 20 multi-use paths. ($25,000)

  Welland
  Contribution to enhancing the quality of lighting and planting at the Division Street (Regional Road 527) entrance to the Farmers Market. Lighting will enhance safety and complement the 2016 funding which transformed the market entrance. ($49,000)

• 2023

  Lincoln
  Jordan Village Streetscaping (Phase 2),
  contributes to the transformation of Jordan Village as a premier destination in the Town of Lincoln. Streetscape enhancements to active transportation facilities, flexible street/plaza space, decorative pavers, wayfinding, street trees, planting beds, planting containers, street furnishings, gateways, placemaking elements, banners, decorative seasonal lighting and street lighting. ($134,000)

  Niagara-on-the-Lake
  First of its kind in Ontario, the diverging diamond intersection at Glendale Avenue includes a new roundabout that is a prominent and lushly landscaped gateway telling the story of agriculture. ($140,000)

  Lincoln
  This is the first partnership with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. The Rockway Conservation Area and the Niagara Bruce Trail enhancement will provide more trees, cycling and pedestrian facilities better accessibility and wayfinding. ($26,000)

  Port Colborne
  Phase 2 of the funding will be directed to streetscape enhancements along Killaly Street and includes street trees, decorative metal fence and gates, decorative lighting, artistic mural, decorative entrance gate for placemaking element. Lions Club members are also contributing funding to the city. ($50,000)

• 2022

  Lincoln
  Jordan Village Streetscape at 19th Street, Main Street and King Street (Regional Road 81). Streetscape enhancements such as enhanced active transportation facilities, flexible street/plaza space, decorative pavers, wayfinding, street trees, planting beds, planters, street furnishings, placemaking elements, banners, decorative seasonal lighting and street lighting. ($100,000)

  Niagara Falls
  Lundy's Lane (Regional Road 20) Streetscape at OPG Canal Bridge. Streetscape enhancements along bridge, such as enhanced active transportation facilities, decorative fencing, placemaking elements, street furnishings, plant material, banners, decorative seasonal lighting and street lighting. ($30,000)

  Niagara-on-the-Lake
  Niagara Stone Road (Regional Road 55) Streetscape in Virgil. Streetscape enhancements, such as enhanced active transportation facilities, street trees, plant material, street furnishings, placemaking elements, banners, decorative seasonal lighting, street lighting and burial of some overhead utilities. ($120,000)

  Port Colborne
  Lions Field Streetscape at 120 Killaly Street West (Regional Road 5). Streetscape enhancements, such as decorative metal fence and gates, shade trees, and a placemaking element, such as a gateway. ($45,000)

  Welland
  Downtown Parkette at 12 East Main Street (Regional Road 27). Parkette enhancements such as site furnishings, plaza space, decorative pavers, plant material, placemaking elements, decorative lighting and public art installations. ($55,000)

• 2021

  Lincoln
  Downtown Beamsville Beautification Projects: A number of landscaping enhancement, public art and tourism related installations along Ontario Street (Regional Road 18) and King Street (Regional Road 81). ($31,000)

  Jordan Hollow Cultural Park: Elements include Indigenous public art installations, rain gardens, rest areas, elements to support active transportation (bike parking and repair station), landscaping and wayfinding, gateway and interpretative signage adjacent King Street (Regional Road 81). ($83,000)

  Niagara Falls
  Canada Summer Games Project at Oakes Park, Morrison Street and Stanley Avenue (Regional Road 102): Enhancements to the spectator and public plazas at the park including a new shade structure, new picnic/seating areas, benches, accessible picnic tables, signage and landscaping. ($25,000)

  Pelham
  Enhanced tree planting along the new multi-use trail and benches adjacent to Rice Road (Regional Road 54) to enhance previous funding for rest areas at major intersections. ($10,000)

  Canada Summer Games Project - The Arches in Fonthill: Funding enhancements to the arches replacement project, including shade structures and lighting. This area is home to the cycling road race venue. ($30,000)

  St. Catharines
  Greening projects, including tree planting in the medians along Fourth Avenue (Regional Road 77) from Third Street Louth to Vansickle Road. It also includes the refurbishment of the gateway feature along Lakeshore Road (Regional Road 87) at Bunting Road with plant material species and active transportation elements. ($35,000)

  Canada Summer Games Project - Yukon House: Creation of a 13-for-13 cultural event for the Games, including public art, seating, a shade structure and other elements at the corner of James Street and St. Paul Street (Regional Road 81). ($10,000)

  Thorold
  Installation of a rest area, street furniture and landscaping at key points along the south side of St. David's Road (Regional Road 71) to complement the multi-use pathway. ($26,000)

• 2020
  Lincoln
  Landscaping enhancements, public art and tourism related installations along Ontario Street (Regional Road 18) and King Street (Regional Road 81). ($31,000)

  Install Indigenous public art, rain gardens, rest areas, elements to support active transportation (bike parking and repair station), landscaping, wayfinding, gateway and interpretative signage next to King Street (Regional Road 81) at Jordan Hollow Cultural Park. ($83,000)

  Niagara Falls
  Improve the spectator and public plazas at Oakes Park to support the Canada Summer Games, including a new shade structure, new picnic / seating areas, benches, accessible picnic tables, signage and landscaping. ($25,000)

  Pelham
  Enhanced the new multi-use trail with tree planting and benches next to Rice Road (Regional Road 54). ($30,000)

  Funding requested to support enhancements to the Pelham Arches replacement project, including shade structures and lighting. This area is home to the Cycling Road Race venue for the Canada Summer Games. ($10,000)

  St. Catharines
  Tree planting along Martindale Road (Regional Road 38) at Welland Vale Road, and refurbishment of the gateway feature along Lakeshore Road (Regional Road 87) at Bunting Road with native plants species and active transportation elements. ($35,000)

  Helped in the creation of a 13 for 13 cultural event for the Canada Summer Games, including public art, seating, shade structure and other elements at the corner of James and St. Paul streets. ($10,000)
• 2019

  Pelham
  Enhanced seating area located in front of the storm water management pond near the intersection of Port Robinson Road and Rice Road (Regional Road 54). ($30,000)

  Welland
  Providing additional accessible elements at the Civic Square, and future enhancements at Hellems Street parkette at Main Street. ($20,000)

  West Lincoln
  Streetscape enhancements, roundabout enhancements, and a parkette at the corner of Griffin and West streets; additional decorative lighting and burial of associated overhead infrastructure ($100,000)

• 2018

  Grimsby
  Provided funding to help with replacement of refuse containers on Main Street (Regional Road 81). ($5,000)

  Lincoln
  Completed landscape improvements along King Street. ($15,000)

  Niagara Falls
  Additional Lundy's Lane streetscape enhancements, including street furniture, enhanced bus shelters, gateway features and lighting that are under construction. ($100,000)

  Welland
  Planned enhancements of the Welland Civic Square, specifically in regards to enhancing the direct interface of the Civic Square with the streetscape condition along East Main Street (Regional Road 27). ($30,000)

  West Lincoln
  Helped with the design and construction of the Smithville parkette at the corner of St. Catharines and Brock streets. The parkette is under construction and expected to be completed in 2020. ($100,000)

• 2017

  Pelham
  Enhanced seating area in front of the storm water management pond near the intersection of Regional Road 20 and Regional Road 54, pending construction. ($12,000)

  St. Catharines
  Enhanced the new parkette at the intersections of Niagara and Geneva streets (Regional Road 46 and Regional Road 48). The parkette will feature paving treatments, landscaping, seating, public art and lighting. The parkette is under construction and is expected to be completed in 2020. ($100,000)

  Welland
  Helped with the construction of the multi-use path along Prince Charles Drive (Regional Road 54) and contributed to the installation of new trees, benches, garbage containers and wayfinding. ($100,000)

  West Lincoln
  Provided banner arms and basket arms along Griffin Street West, replaced the season's greetings sign and heritage mural at the Murgatroyd Building seating areas, installed a new wayfinding sign and seating enhancements to the landscaping of the new public parking area along West Street. ($38,000)

• 2016

  Fort Erie
  Provided funding to help with the installation of two transit shelters in close proximity to the Central Avenue and Jarvis Street intersection. ($17,000)

  Grimsby
  Replaced trees in the downtown and installed irrigated pits to encourage growth. ($22,000)

  Lincoln
  Completed streetscape enhancements (landscape and seating areas) along King and Main streets. ($60,000)

  Niagara Falls
  Completed streetscape enhancements, including benches, other site furniture and utility box wraps along Lundy’s Lane. ($29,310)

  Welland
  Completed the canoe public art piece and historical bell relocation at Civic Square and completed enhancements to the street interface at the Welland Farmer's Market. ($69,190)

  West Lincoln
  Completed streetscape improvements along Griffin Street North in downtown Smithville, including decorative paving, tree planting and site furniture. ($42,500)