City of Windsor Master Plans
An economic development strategy for the City’s future growth that provides a detailed and long-term plan for Windsor to better serve the needs of current and future residents, by focusing on four pillars: location, infrastructure, future economy, and talent. This road map seeks to leverage Windsor’s strengths and capitalize on new opportunities to take our economy to the next level of growth and prosperity, creating a stronger, more resilient local economy.
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Economic Revitalization Community Improvement Plan (CIP)
This strategy provides financial incentives to encourage new investment in targeted economic sectors for the purposes of diversifying the local economy and creating/retaining jobs. The CIP allows the City to take a variety of measures – to further the objectives of the plan – that would otherwise be prohibited by Ontario’s Municipal Act. This includes the acquisition and preparation of land; construction, repair, rehabilitation or improvement of buildings; the sale, lease or disposal of land and buildings; and the provision of grants to owners or tenants of land – all of which must conform with the objectives and policies contained within the CIP.
Home, Together: Windsor Essex Housing and Homeless Master Plan
This plan supports the City of Windsor as the designated service manager responsible for the administration and funding of housing programs in the region. The plan identifies the range of housing challenges in Windsor-Essex, analyzes how housing and homelessness programs are currently delivered, and puts forward actions aimed at meeting the housing and support needs of all residents. The purpose of the plan is to provide a comprehensive approach to delivering a system of housing and homelessness service. The plan includes strategies to reduce gaps; sets targets; increases awareness and access to affordable and safe housing; implements measures to prevent homelessness; and includes the non-profit and private sectors in the planning.
Strengthen The Core Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan
This strategy focuses on addressing safety and security, improving cleanliness, expanding activities, and attracting new investments, businesses, and residents to the core. The plan’s 7 initial action items include: Safe Streets, High Standards, Healthy Spaces, Place-Making, Vibrant District, ‘Our Downtown’, and Stronger Together.
Sewer and Coastal Flood Protection Master Plan
The City of Windsor has identified the increased risk associated with shoreline and overland flooding due to record high Lake St. Clair and Detroit River water levels. This plan aims to reduce these impacts and help prevent the risk of basement, over-land, and coastal flooding. It outlines several short and long-term solutions that will be implemented within private properties and the City’s right-of-way to improve our local infrastructure, build resilience, and mitigate against storm and flood events.
Transit Master Plan
The City of Windsor is working to ensure our transit system can more effectively serve our community. To do this, we are looking at the changing needs of our city and understanding how to better connect people to school, work, and services. We are looking at how transit can support the healthy growth and development of our neighbourhoods. This road map to modernize public transit focuses on three key priorities: modern mobility, customer focus, and liveable communities. The actions and recommendations in the plan outline a solid, innovative, forward-thinking strategy for Transit Windsor to better serve the needs of our evolving community.
Active Transportation Master Plan: Walk Wheel Windsor
Windsor residents move around our city in many ways – walking, biking, skateboarding, riding the bus, driving, carpooling – the list goes on. The City of Windsor is committed to improving walking, biking, transit, and other active mobility options. This plan sets the foundation for developing well-connected, attractive, active transportation networks that are safe, convenient, and user-friendly. The plan includes a vision and supporting policies and actions to guide the development of safe, attractive, and convenient active transportation options for people of all ages and abilities.
Environmental Master Plan
This plan aims to make the City of Windsor cleaner, greener, healthier, and more sustainable, reflecting the City’s commitment to enhancing environmental performance and facilitating social well-being and economic prosperity. The plan considers the impacts of climate change and the health of the community, and has an integrated approach to recognizing the connections between the environment, economy, and society.
Climate Change Adaptation Plan
Climate change adaptation consists of actions that are taken to deal with the occurring and predicted impacts of climate change. This reactive and anticipatory approach causes people and municipalities to adapt to the changes resulting from climate change. Anticipatory adaptation actions are those that brace for the impacts of climate change, and these actions tends to have a long-term vision and lower long-term costs. Adaptation planning allows a municipality to identify and leverage any potential benefits that may be a result of climate change. This plan allows the City to identify and build on work already completed; check in on existing stressors, risks, and implementation progress; and advance the community further toward climate resilience of its social, economic, built and natural systems.
Community Energy Plan
Community Energy Plan. This plan will result in the City improving energy efficiency; modifying land use planning; reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; and fostering green energy solutions throughout Windsor, while supporting local economic development. The plan encompasses the community’s residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, as well as institutional and transportation energy use and water use. This plan builds on the priorities identified in the City’s Environmental Master Plan, and includes recommendations for capital projects, timelines and commitments to integrate smart energy recommendations into other relevant municipal planning processes.
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Rediscover our Parks – Parks and Outdoor Recreation Master Plan
The City of Windsor’s Parks system boasts over 205 parks; 174+ km of multi-use trails, including 12 km on the waterfront, the Malden Park mountain bike trails, Ganatchio Trail, Little River Corridor Trail, and the 42.5 km Windsor Loop; and over 2,400 acres of greenspace, including 15 kms of woodland and prairie hiking trails at the stunning Ojibway Prairie Complex. This plan’s focus is to promote the existing Parks system for people to rediscover and explore. The recommendations within the plan were compiled from consultations and survey results, as well as a document review of what other municipalities are doing to ensure the City is providing up-to-date outdoor recreational spaces and experiences for the community.
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Recreation Master Plan
The City of Windsor’s recreation facilities and programs allow residents to be physically active, encourage them to connect with each other, attract economic investment and spinoffs, promote community vibrancy, and are part of local environmental stewardship initiatives. Recreation is at the heart of a strong community. For Windsor’s recreation system to remain strong, this plan establishes a collective vision for recreation; assists the City in identifying its greatest needs and priorities; and suggests the right mix of facilities, programs and services for residents.
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Municipal Cultural Master Plan
This plan provides guidance to the municipality regarding its investments in support of the community’s arts, culture and heritage sectors. The City’s Culture and Events department has worked to implement the plan’s recommendations. Key accomplishments to date include the design, development and opening of Museum Windsor’s Chimczuk Museum; establishment and enhancement of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund (ACHF) grant program; creation of Bright Lights Windsor and Open Streets Windsor; enhancements to the Public Art Policy; establishment of a Public Art Fund; establishment of the Windsor Mayor’s Arts Awards; establishment of the Poet Laureate and Storytellers program; and large-scale investments in public art including the Tecumseh and Brock Monument, the Hiram Walker Commemorative Statue, the Rosalie Trombley Commemorative Sculpture, and the restoration of historic Streetcar No. 351.
Welcoming City – Diversity and Inclusion Initiative and the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
Mayor Dilkens spearheaded a Diversity and Inclusion Initiative – the first of its kind in the City’s history – with Council committing significant funds and resources to see it through. The Mayor and Council remain dedicated to continually taking steps to learn and grow as a community, and they recognize that our diversity adds to our strength and creates an important opportunity for fostering understanding, acceptance and innovation. The Multi-Year Accessibility Plan works to break down barriers for City clients and employees with living with disabilities. The City is committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which all individuals have access to the City’s services, facilities and programs in a manner that respects their dignity and independence.