Dear Mr. Nussbaum,
On behalf of the Glebe Community Association, I am writing to express our thanks for the pilot project that closed the Queen Elizabeth Driveway to motor vehicles this past spring and summer.
The Glebe Community Association advocates for a liveable, sustainable and diverse urban neighbourhood. As you know, the past months of public health restrictions have been necessary but challenging for Ottawa residents. We know that those in the Glebe and other nearby neighbourhoods very much appreciated the extra outdoor space to exercise while practising safe physical distancing. The Queen Elizabeth Driveway was very well used by people of all ages – walkers, runners, cyclists, roller-bladers, people portaging paddle-craft to the dock at Patterson Creek – everyone looking to enjoy some fresh air safely. By encouraging the use of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway for exercise, the project also may have made more space available for those visiting essential businesses on Bank Street. Thank you for your leadership and action at a time when it was most needed.
Please pass on our thanks and best wishes to those staff at the National Capital Commission who helped to make this project a great success.
Sincerely,
Laura Smith