The City of St. John’s has released a What We Heard report summarizing findings from public engagement which took place in November and December of 2024 on the development of a land use plan for the Cowan Heights neighbourhood.

Highlights of What We Heard include:

1. Parks and trails are the heart of the neighbourhood: Cowan Heights has connected parks and trails, with access to Bowring Park. Improvements in amenities and wayfinding are needed as the community grows.
2. Enhancing safety and access for walking and wheeling is a priority: Improvements in pathways, accessibility, and pedestrian crossings are needed, with calls for traffic calming, lighting, and better connections.
3. Safety is a growing concern: Rising crime, home maintenance issues, and rats are concerns.
4. Intensification should be focused on the edges of the neighbourhood: Support for increased density and mixed-use development near the Village Shopping Centre, with a focus on walkability and maintaining area character.

The City of St. John’s has a strategic direction to be a Sustainable City, planning for land use while preserving and enhancing the natural and built environment for residents. The University Area and Cowan Heights neighbourhood plans play a key role in advancing this direction.

A What We Heard Report was also released for the University Area Neighbourhood land use plan. You can read that report on the project page.