On an aerial map, it looks like a green river running through a densely populated community. It’s actually a narrow, tree-lined pathway used for walking and biking west of downtown Ottawa. Called the Byron Linear Park, it’s a stretch of urban green space used and loved by the people living along it. It’s not a precious park. It’s a park that takes you places. To a beautiful heritage garden, to main street, to a public library, to a dentist appointment, or just out for a stroll to nowhere at all.

A few facts:

• The linear park runs 2.5 km westward from Holland Avenue to Richardson Avenue (with a break between Churchill and Golden Avenues in Westboro)
• The path takes you through two wards, Kitchissippi and Bay, and several distinct communities, including Fisher Park, Wellington West, Hampton Park, Laurentian View, Westboro, McKellar Park, Carlingwood and Woodpark
• It was a streetcar line from 1900 to 1959, and has been a city park ever since
• According to the City of Ottawa archives, it was named “The Byron Linear Tramway Park” on December 20, 1985

I started this project because the city has decided to build a light rail station, called Cleary Station, on a large section of the linear park at the end of my street. Residents had always asked the city to keep the LRT off the linear park, and the city agreed; the previous plan was to build the station underground in a grassy berm on Richmond Road and to beautify the park.

Without consultation, the city changed its decision and now we are stuck with it. When I heard the news, I realized how much I value this space, as so many in our community do. I’m going to use this blog to document how our community uses the linear park, and the change that is coming.