The people have spoken: St. Davids’ new roundabout should have a traditional, more low-key look to it.
Niagara Region released survey results on Wednesday on the design of the planned roundabout for York and Four Mile Creek roads in St. Davids, the community’s main intersection.
Niagara residents were asked to choose between two design themes: a “historical/traditional” option and an “agricultural and contemporary” option, with the former being the top choice as voted on by 867 participants.
The region says the layout will feature four quadrants representing the Indigenous medicine wheel. A valley will cut through one half of the roundabout with blue ornamental grass planted in the middle, to evoke the Niagara Escarpment and Four Mile Creek.
The other half will include a trail symbolizing York Road and an Indigenous trail.
The other design, meanwhile, would’ve included a large, rounded trellis at the centre of the roundabout, with training vines growing on it, a “visually striking” feature, the region’s report states, that would’ve reflected agriculture’s importance to St. Davids.
There would’ve also been six upright slabs around the trellis on the ground that would’ve highlighted significant features of St. Davids and NOTL.
The plan selected by survey respondents includes space around the roundabout for seating, decorative planting and a Christmas tree, along with landscaped areas at the roundabout’s entrances.
The agricultural and contemporary theme was chosen for the gateway leading up to the roundabout along York Road.
This section will feature decorative paving designed to resemble a wooden bridge, flanked by planting beds.
Deciduous trees will be planted further back on both sides, which the region says are meant to evoke the War of 1812.
Survey respondents also preferred the traditional design for site furnishings, benches, waste bins, bike racks, lamp posts, informational signage and grist mill wheel displays.
Participants selected brick-red coloured concrete and contemporary decorative pillars for finishing touches.
The results, presented in a video, said 867 residents participated either in person or online.
The intersection is currently a four-way stop.
The roundabout project has sparked controversy, with some St. Davids residents opposing it due to safety concerns and a debate as to whether it fits the character of the community.
