While the District of Sechelt council is in agreement the Boulevard and pathway that runs along the Trail Bay waterfront is in need of some improvements — just what those upgrades should look like are still very much undecided.
At an Oct. 16 meeting, council voted to support the Sechelt Downtown Business Association (SDBA), which was asking for financial assistance in order to qualify for a grant from the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP). If approved, the grant will be put towards transforming the “underused waterfront to create a bustling space that supports culture, business and tourism.”
At the meeting, SDBA executive director Theressa Logan explained the association could potentially qualify for a $1 million grant from REDIP but only if the district contributes $100,000 in cash and $100,000 of in-kind staff time for a total contribution of $200,000 towards the Boulevard waterfront improvement project.
“The waterfront improvement project has been brought to council before by staff many years ago,” said Logan. “I think there's an opportunity here. If we can get some free money, it would be, in my opinion, silly to throw that opportunity away.”
Logan added if the grant application isn’t successful, the financial obligation from the district no longer stands.
The SDBA has some ideas and plans for what it would like to see happen to the waterfront, which include space for waterfront eateries or food trucks, covered picnic tables and a suggestion to close the Boulevard section of the waterfront to cars to make way for event space, which could include entertainment and markets.
The proposed plan also offers opportunities for the association to partner with shíshálh Nation to create educational signs and artwork, which would share the history of the shíshálh people dating back 10,000 years and their connection to the waterfront.
Logan noted, none of the association’s plans are set in stone and feedback from council and the public will guide the planning process once financing is secured. She added, a recent survey of locals showed very few take friends or family to the waterfront when they’re visiting because “there was nothing there for them, but some dead grass and a few benches.”
“I mean, there are other parts of the waterfront that are beautiful, but when you have the majority of the people that live here say they wouldn't bring their friends or family there, then there's a problem,” Logan said.
Coun. Alton Toth confirmed he also doesn’t take visitors to the waterfront.
“I agree that it would be nice to do a little bit of work there, like filling potholes and doing something better for the grass or what have you. But honestly, I don't take people there either when they come to town, and the reason I don't take them there is because it's too windy,” he said.
Toth added access to the waterfront via the Boulevard is also a concern for him and noted there are many people in the community who would like the waterfront left exactly as is.
“They drive up there, they'll park, they'll eat their lunch, they engage with people walking their dogs, that sort of thing. A lot of those people that are driving up there and parking have mobility issues,” he said. “My mom was one of them. She wouldn't have been able to park down the hill and walk in.”
He said the last time the proposal came to council, it was clear the idea of closing the Boulevard was very controversial and divisive. Toth added he was supportive of a plan to make some improvements, but not closing off the Boulevard to traffic.
Coun. Darren Inkster agreed the area along the waterfront is getting older and could use some work.
“If you go walk down there now, especially over the next weekend, you're going to be walking in puddles,” he said. “So, it works really well in the summer. But now it's more restrictive because you're in puddles, the road needs more of a rebuild and some of the grass needs replanting and trees need redoing. So, there's a lot of work that needs to be done down there.”
Inkster agreed a key issue a number of years ago was around access. He added people are used to driving that section of the waterfront and therein lies the resistance.
“So, what I'm saying in a roundabout way is, I'd like to see us find a way to support a project that will revitalize the waterfront, but recognize our community needs,” he said. “The question I would ask in saying that, though, is because I've been involved in so many revitalization projects for downtown, and Sechelt has changed so much over the years, and I think it looks much better. If people don't think so they should have been here 30 years ago. And what I would want to know is, if in fact, we approve or change the plan, is that okay with the SDBA? Is this all about improving that waterfront area? Because I'm certainly supportive of that.”
According to the proposal, the waterfront plan includes accessible parking on either side of promenade, widening all of the trails to better accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility devices, creating more benches and seating, installing public washrooms and widening green spaces.
Walkability is also part of the proposed plan, so signs would create a strong visual and physical connection to the downtown core, while marked walking routes would encourage visitors to leave their car (either downtown or at the community park) and plan for a day, an afternoon or an evening in Sechelt.
Coun. Adam Shepherd agreed the proposal has been divisive in the past and reiterated the waterfront park is in need of improvements.
“I think it was [past] councillor [Tom] Lamb who said he was supportive of it, if it could be funded mostly through grants. So, I'm in support of it moving forward, at least for the application, so that we can then get to the stage where we consult with the community over the scale and sort of eventual design.”
Logan reiterated no decision will be made until funding is awarded and public consultation is completed.
“We want it to be inclusive of seniors, youth, business, community, everybody,” she said. “…So, it would literally be from the beginning till the end. It's a two-and-a-half to three-year program. And of course, if we don't get the funding, again, that money goes back into your budget or other projects…”
At the meeting, council voted in favour of supporting the SDBA as part of its grant application, with Coun. Dianne McLaughlin against. Coun. Brenda Rowe was away, so absent from council.
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