Ottawa·NewAfter a groundswell of community opposition, Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Rawlson King is deferring plans to build sidewalks on a handful of Manor Park streets until a ‘comprehensive evaluation’ of the work can be done.Installation would have been part of work to dig up sewers, water mainsBen Andrews · CBC News · Posted: Sep 08, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 31 minutes agoA lawn sign opposing new sidewalks in Manor Park, which some residents believe are an unnecessary expense that would detract from the character of the post-war neighbourhood. (Francis Ferland/CBC)After a groundswell of community opposition, Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Rawlson King is deferring plans to build sidewalks on a handful of Manor Park streets until a “comprehensive evaluation” of the work can be done.The city is installing new water mains and sewers on six quiet roads in the post-war neighbourhood and planned to take the opportunity to build sidewalks and traffic-calming measures at the same time.King previously said the city’s approach to the sidewalks was an “economical” way to bring the neighbourhood in line with other road safety enhancements in the area.But in a newsletter posted to his website Friday, King announced his decision to defer work on the sidewalks while the rest of the major construction work goes ahead.According to King, removing the sidewalks from the $18.9-million project will amount to $150,000 in savings.King wrote that he believes several major transportation projects in the area necessitate the “comprehensive evaluation of future pedestrian demand patterns, optimal sidewalk placement, and integration of optimal transportation infrastructure.”He also expanded on his rationale in a detailed 13-page document calling for various studies and assessments to be completed before any sidewalk cement is poured.Sidewalks an ‘unnecessary’ expenseManor Park resident David McInnes praised King’s decision, calling the sidewalks an “unnecessary” use of taxpayer money.McInnes said he isn’t anti-sidewalk and readily acknowledges that the walkways play an important role near schools and on busy streets. But he also believes separate spaces for pedestrians would be of no benefit on the Manor Park streets where the city planned to build them.”While the beauty and the character of the neighbourhood was front and centre for people because we live there and we experience it — it was really this lack of evidence, this lack of a truly proper due assessment of what is the problem we’re trying to solve?” McInnes said.McInnes said he can’t speak on behalf of people with disabilities, but noted he heard in public forums from several speakers with mobility issues, and they said they prefer walking on the road to the sidewalk.Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Rawlson King explained his rationale for the decision to defer sidewalk construction in a detailed 13-page document. (Francis Ferland/CBC)’Strong anti-sidewalk rhetoric’But Eugenie Waters, a family physician and member of the Manor Park Community Association, believes vocal opposition to the sidewalks had a chilling effect on public discourse.”Despite very strong anti-sidewalk rhetoric, there are members of the community who have had to be quite brave to speak up publicly and say that they do need sidewalks,” Waters said.Waters said she’s disappointed with King’s decision to defer sidewalk construction and doesn’t believe the mild cost-savings justify the risk to vulnerable residents left with no option but to walk alongside motor vehicles in the road.”This is a basic standard that we should uphold across our city,” she said.CBC tried to reach King on the weekend, but was unsuccessful.ABOUT THE AUTHORBen Andrews is a reporter with CBC News in Ottawa. He can be reached at benjamin.andrews@cbc.ca or @bendandrews.With files from Gabrielle Huston
Plans for Manor Park sidewalks shelved after community opposition
