Portage la Prairie Downtown Vitalization, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada 

Critical to Portage la Prairie’s economic survival is the necessity to re-focus on its Downtown area. The Portage la Prairie Downtown Vitalization Project introduced urban enhancement concepts that provided spaces for social interaction, recreation and improved commercial amenities in the downtown. Improved storefront treatment, which included improved signage, planting, comfortable seating areas and intricate paving details become important elements which can entice people to visit and stay in the downtown. These ideas help establish a strong sense of place and identity and help to re-establish the Downtown as a “people place.” 

The Concept Plan provided a great opportunity for one of Portage la Prairie’s main social centres, Heritage Square, as the new focal point in the downtown. The benefit of this centre is its key location in the Downtown and the various cultural and recreational facilities it already has. The centre space, or Plaza, can become the hub of downtown activity, providing a centralized area for outdoor lunch hour concerts, markets, winter skating and other special events year-round.