Brampton noise wall could get public art makeover

A five kilometre stretch of noise walls in Brampton could be getting a public art and urban landscaping makeover.

The Williams Parkway Noise Wall runs along Williams Parkway between Harridine Road and North Park Drive and was originally intended to mitigate noise as a result of a previously planned expansion of the parkway.

That plan has since been scrapped, and the wall was earmarked for a $300,000 makeover under the city’s 2022 budget.

The city opened up public input on what to do with the wall with a survey last year, with options to either stain the wall in a new colour, feature public art, or simply leave the wall the way it is.

Of the more than 2,300 respondents to the survey, 708 were in favour of featuring public art at intersections, high traffic areas and parts of the noise wall that will not be covered by tree plantings.

Another 646 repondants said they want to see the wall unchanged, and while 916 wanted the wall to get a new colour of stain.

Some members of council leaned towards using greenery and urban landscaping over art projects to give the wall a new lease on life, including Councillor Doug Whillans.

Whillans said he’s not against public art, but would like to see the city partner with Brampton schools and community groups to work on planting efforts.

“The problem with public art is you have one persons interpretation of it,” he said. “If one person doesn’t like that public art, then you’ve got more complaints likely than if you just left the wall alone.”

On Wednesday, council voted unanimously to ask city staff to report back with a plan for the wall and identify locations for public art, urban landscaping and tree planting, and potential project themes and timelines.