In a bid to attract people to Belleville’s downtown, free WiFi will be installed along a stretch of Front Street in the city centre.
City council has approved a plan which will provide public WiFi from Bridge Street to past McNabb Towers.
Manager of Economic Development Karen Poste told council the data collected will be shared with partners and will provide the city with information on how long visitors spend downtown and how many trips they make.
Councillor Sean Kelly asked whether or not people should be concerned about “their personal information or information about the car they are driving.”
Manager of Information Services Marc Coyle emphasized the system would not be about getting access to a person’s phone.
Mayor Mitch Panciuk said he looked forward to having all municipal buildings set with public WiFi.
Panciuk added, “I would like to see it cover all parks, all our spaces, in the future.”
Coyle noted WiFi is already at Meyers Pier and staff is investigating how to get it to Zwick’s Island for the Pop-Ups to be located there this summer.
Councillor Pat Culhane congratulated staff saying, “It is essential to development of the downtown core.”
The project cost is just over $101,240.30, to be split among the provincial government, the City of Belleville, Belleville Downtown District, and the Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board.
