The district has applied for approximately $400,000 in B.C. government funding to complete another phase of the downtown revitalization.
Now that the facades of the downtown businesses have been given a facelift, the district would like to update, renovate and incorporate the rest of the vision that Bob Inwood created for the Fort in his “Streetscape Project.” That vision includes a proposed clock tower and planters in front of the Goodwin Building at the “five corners” and fencing and landscaping integrated into the sidewalk berms. There would also be archways to identify walkways throughout the seasons, and landscaped barriers to increase pedestrian safety.
Deb Hadwen, economic development officer for the district, explains the landscaping could open up a potential walking tour of downtown, from the historic site to the Russ Bakers Memorial, with interpretive signs guiding the way.
She also says the plants would be native species, an environmentally-friendly option that also helps people learn about the ecology of the area. The grant money applied for would account for about 80 per cent of the funding required to complete what the district would like to see done, according to Hadwen, and comes from the Towns for Tomorrow Program the BC government offers up for municipalities to apply for. The other 20 per cent of the required costs would be covered by the local district.
The work would only involve municipal property, but property owners could partner with the town to do more as well. The same funding helped the Murray Ridge Ski Hill complete extensive upgrades four years ago. The funds allowed the mountain to purchase a new groomer, put a new floor in the lodge, build a new outside deck, paint the lodge, install a water treatment centre in the lodge as well as pay for the labour and some brushing on the mountain.