Dwight and Amy Brown talk to Director of Operations Shawn Goodsell during an open house in council chambers on July 10. The Town is proposing to create a linear park incorporating Fairview Road ($160,000) and Gala Street ($180,000).
Betty Lou Trimmer-Bahnsen is in park heaven right now.
That’s because the Town of Oliver is proposing to transform two weedy lots into park space.
Trimmer-Bahnsen was one of many residents who attended last week’s open house on what the Town has in store for two strips of land – one on Fairview Road across from the high school, and one on Gala Street, north of School Avenue.
“It’s progress, and will add so much to the look of our town,” she pointed out.
Director of Operations Shawn Goodsell said Town council wants feedback on the proposal that will see these parks linked by crosswalks that will form a green corridor in the Fairview/Gala neighbourhood. He noted the plan will be funded through development cost charge reserves and local taxation.
The Fairview strip (between Similkameen Avenue and Nicola Street) has been a weed lot for a long time. So the idea is to beautify it with a mix of landscaping and shrubs, and a walkway running through it. A picnic table and benches are also considerations.
A traffic roundabout is also being proposed at Fairview and Spartan Street. Goodsell said this will add another dimension of beauty to the area and will act as a “traffic calming” measure. Motorists will have to slow down to 30 km/h and there will be no confusion as to who has the right of way, he pointed out.
The second strip of proposed park is on Gala Street between School Avenue and Okanagan Street. It will receive similar treatment, with landscaping and a walkway. There is also the option of planting trees and erecting benches. The pathway can be paved asphalt or gravel.
Goodsell said they also propose to refurbish the concrete steps between Gala and Okanagan Street. Trimmer-Bahnsen said the Town’s proposal actually reflects the previous “wish list” of the Communities In Bloom organization. It identified these areas for beautification. She said cleaning up these eyesores will make a big difference in the community, adding that green space is healthy. She stated that the school kids can use these areas for art and science study.
Trimmer-Bahnsen said the Town needs to ensure there are garbage cans in these parks. She also expressed her desire for gravel pathways in order to keep skateboarders off of them.
Local resident Amy Brown said some form of street lighting is necessary for safety and security purposes. Amy and her husband Dwight Brown liked what they saw at the open house. “It makes you feel better about living here. The way it is now, it costs money to maintain (so why not maintain it as a park?)” Dwight said.
Both Amy and Dwight agreed they would much rather see their tax dollars go towards this proposal instead of the Highway 97 resurfacing project that was recently announced. Amy said they don’t have sidewalks where they live (on Rockcliffe Road), so these new parks would give them something to walk to.
One concern that was raised at the open house was the option of planting trees on the Gala strip, which may block the views of some residents. Gala Street resident Alex Maas likes the idea of a new park, but would prefer to see xeriscaping (for low maintenance) instead of grass. She would also prefer not to have benches for fear of people loitering in the neighbourhood.
Resident Christine Lesmeister agreed, fearing this may prompt some people to sit there and drink (like they do on the concrete steps). “It makes me uncomfortable,” she said. But the overall park concept is a good idea, she pointed out, noting the Gala strip has been ignored for years.
