North Battleford City Council social distanced at the Chapel Gallery at Monday's meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Downtown improvement

City approves new temporary pocket park for downtown

Mar 9, 2021 | 10:04 AM

North Battleford residents will be able to enjoy their lunch al fresco over the summer now that city council has given two thumbs up for a temporary pocket park.

Administration recommended approving the proposal to turn a vacant lot into a temporary pocket park at 1122-101 Street, with a condition the project be reviewed at the end of the summer, before deciding if it goes ahead again for the summer of 2022.

The North Battleford Downtown Business Improvement District [BID] is partnering with the city on the initiative.

Mayor David Gillan said the business committee supported the proposal.

“I know there are risks in everything we do. But I also believe we need to take a chance on the positive side of our community versus the negative side of our community,” Gillan said.

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The city will install some of its surplus metal benches and picnic tables, along with flower pots, and garbage cans to create the space on the gravel base.

The pocket park will be open in the summer only.

If there are any issues or the lot is sold or developed, the city said the outdoor furniture can be easily removed.

Junior planner Brett Kitchen stated in his submitted report the idea for the pocket park was brought forward to city administration at the Downtown BID meeting in February. The lot is owned by the city but has been vacant for several years.

“It’s something we see as being important because what we are trying to do downtown is increase the number of legitimate users,” City director of corporate services Jennifer Niesink said.

Based on the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, as more people use the space for legitimate uses, it will reduce the likelihood of any unwanted activity.

“With any luck, a pocket park like this is going to bring more people downtown,” Niesink said.

It gives people the option to purchase their lunch at one of the nearby shops, and then sit down to enjoy it in the park, she said.

The BID and city administration will be responsible for monitoring the space and activity to evaluate the project, and the BID Clean Team to Downtown will look after keeping the park tidy.

Coun. Bill Ironstand had some concerns with the project.

“I agree with revamping downtown…But my gut tells me it will be a new loitering place,” he said.

He was also worried the area would become muddy since there won’t be any grass in the space.

Overall, council liked the idea to give a boost to the downtown.

Coun. Kent Lindgren who favoured the project said the area was used for people to have a snack and relax to view entertainment on the street when the BID had its downtown fall festival in the past.

Coun. Greg Lightfoot was also supportive, saying the pocket park will be good for business, employees and patrons to create more business activity, and “try to transform the downtown.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW