Re-making Sparks: Ottawa's downtown pedestrian mall through the decades

Residents can have their say about the planned revitalization of Sparks Street at a town hall being held this morning.

The city wants ideas to improve how the mall functions, its programming, amenities,transportation access and more.

The town hall is being held in council chambers at City Hall from 9a.m. to noon on Jan. 13.

Heading into the meeting, CBCspent some time in ourarchives, digging into the mall's storied past. Here's some of the more interesting video we found.

What do you think about the mall? What should change? Leave your comments below this story.

Early stages

In the late 1950s,plans were being developed for the Sparks Street pedestrian mall, including asculpture garden, lots of seating, flower beds, big trees and more.

Plans for a long canopy along bothsides of the mall, equipped with infrared heating,wereeventually scrapped.

People were still allowed to walk through the mall during construction, but it didn'tofficially open until1960.

ARCHIVES Sparks Street plans, construction, opening (1959-60)

8 years ago

Duration 2:20

In the mid-1960s, plans were being developed for the Sparks Street pedestrian mall. Construction took a while, and it opened to great fanfare.

In February 1991, CBCdug into the archives and produced this TheWay We Were segment about the grand reopening of Sparks Street Mall in 1967, when it was made a permanent feature of the city.

Interestingly, the mallwas the envy of municipal planners fromBaltimore, Md.,who came to Ottawa to check it out.

ARCHIVES Sparks Street Mall reopens in 1967

8 years ago

Duration 1:23

When Ottawa's pedestrian mall became permanent it received international attention.

Hippiehangout

This one is pretty funny. In June 1993, CBC'sTheWay We Were produced thissegment about hordesof hippies hanging out onSparks Streetin 1967.

At the timethere werefears that a "hippie invasion" would descend on the capitalin 1968. Officials even spoke of mysterious posters, apparently seen in the U.S., promoting some kind of hippie love-inin Ottawa for the summer of 1968.

Theinvasion never transpired.

ARCHIVES Hippies hang out on Sparks Street (1967-68)

8 years ago

Duration 2:18

In June 1993, CBC dug into the archives and produced this Way We Were segment about dozens of hippies hanging out in Sparks Street Mall in 1967.

Problems mount in the '80s

This April 1980 story by CBCreporterDoug James revealssome problems facingthe mall including high winds, a lack of sunlight and ascarcity of green space.

Then it cuts to CBCvideo takeninMay 1985, showing hundreds of people on the street. The place looked pretty bustling back then, despite the complaints.

ARCHIVES Sparks Street problems in the 1980s

8 years ago

Duration 1:25

This CBC story by Doug James reported on problems at Sparks Street Mall, including wind, a lack of sunlight, the need for more parks, and more.

Street vendors kicked out in 2000

In 2000, Sparks Street's management board decided force street vendors off the mall after allowing them for about seven years. The board felt the mall had becometoo cluttered, and merchants in stores along Sparks Street has were complaining the street vendors werecutting into their business and ignoring contracts.

Sound familiar? That's because in 2014, pretty much the same story played out again.

ARCHIVES Vendors kicked off Sparks Street (March 2000)

8 years ago

Duration 1:56

In March 2000, there was a plan in the works to kick outdoor vendors off the Sparks Street Mall.

Decline of Sparks Street

In March 2000, CBC reporter Arthur Lewis took a longlook intothe decline of the Sparks Street Mall.

Among the issues he touched on werethe rise of suburban shopping centres in the 1950s, the expropriation of thenorth side of Sparks Street by the federal government in the1970s, the National Capital Commission's stewardship of its Sparks Street holdings, and a lack of dialogue between the NCC, the federal government and the city.

Some familiar faces appear in this video, including Mayor Jim Watsonand the former city councillor for the area, Diane Holmes.

ARCHIVES Decline of Sparks Street (March 2000)

8 years ago

Duration 8:01

In March 2000, CBC reporter Arthur Lewis took a deep look into what caused the decline of the Sparks Street Mall.