INNISFAIL -- The aesthetics of downtown is getting a makeover with six new bicycle racks and a fresh look for its problematic bench system with almost half being moved to trails along Napoleon Lake and at Centennial Park.
The new look was unanimously approved by town council at its regular meeting on April 11.
When the three-phase $8.5-million Downtown Revitalization Project was completed almost five years ago several new benches had been installed along Main Street to provide adequate seating for pedestrians, especially for the town's high seniors population, noted an administration report presented to council.
However, the report noted the benches are "rarely used." Rod Fraser, the town's director of operational services, said the town received complaints the benches were facing away from the street, drivers parking cars would hit a bench when opening a door, and they were just too close to the street.
"Getting those (benches) out of the way will help immensely with parking, getting in and out of your vehicle, and also they (benches) impede snow removal too," said Fraser. "The job of the businesses is to push the snow from their storefront out into the street. Our job is to pick it up from the street and take it away in the wintertime, but the benches tended to interfere with that and it just means a big pile of snow over the benches and they are in the way."
Fraser said there are now 21 benches between 51st and 49th avenues. Following council's approval on April 11 nine will be removed -- all of them initially installed the wrong way. That will leave 12 benches, plus three picnic tables, still in the area, said Fraser, adding the 11 that are staying put are currently in the right places, while one will have to be turned around and moved eight to 10 feet away from the curb and traffic.
"There's room to take it, flip it around and face the street and move it to the back of the sidewalk where it is 10 feet away from cars. The other ones will go," said Fraser.
The nine benches that are being removed from downtown will be relocated within the town's trail system, mostly around Napoleon Lake and Centennial Park to replace existing aging and deteriorating benches. The report to council said this move will create a "uniform look" to the park area. Fraser said all memorial plaques on existing trail/park benches will be moved to the relocated benches.
As for the six new bicycle racks for downtown -- a first for the area -- they will be placed on both sides of 50th Street: near the bowling alley, at the 50th Avenue intersection and on both sides of 50th Street near the cenotaph. The report to council said the bicycle racks will accommodate two bikes each, cover the majority of downtown, and be placed without any interference with parking.
"We've chosen spots where it doesn't interfere with parking and also when you lock up your bicycle you are not real close to the curb. There is some room there so you are not in danger of being clipped by a car mirror," said Fraser, adding there will be a price tag of about $2,000 for the six new bicycle racks.
He said the new downtown core arrangement for benches and new bicycle racks will be completed by town staff in May.
"We have given the information to the operational team so they can handle this in the next month," he said.
