During my first term on the council, I had the opportunity to work closely with a marketing expert who assisted in the development of the town's website and other initiatives. In order to learn more about Gull Lake and its neighbouring communities, he came to Gull Lake for a tour of our trading area. I took him for a drive to see Maple Creek, Eastend, and Shaunavon. When the tour was over and we were back in Gull Lake, I asked him how we compared to our neighbours. He remarked that our residential areas and recreation facilities were attractive, but that our downtown appeared very tired.
The vitality of a town's economy can be gauged by the appearance of its downtown, which should be a source of civic pride. To that end, the town council joined the Communities in Bloom Program and embarked on a downtown beautification project. As a result of the creation of a façade improvement incentive, many downtown businesses have recently painted their buildings, which has contributed to the revitalization of the downtown area. The Wong Guy Shoe Shop's façade was recently renovated by the town's Economic Development Committee, and a crosswalk was installed in front of the Lyceum Theatre.
The Town Council contracted Safe Sidewalks Canada in 2016 to eliminate trip hazards after residents complained about the condition of the town's sidewalks. Safe Sidewalks also gave the council an evaluation of the condition of all the town's sidewalks. Many of the town's sidewalks are still in good condition, but some are failing. The council thought a good place to start repairing sidewalks would be downtown.
In 2018, the Town Council authorised Solid-State Rubber Paving to fix a portion of the sidewalk in front of the Town Hall. The material used in front of the Town Hall is made of rubber, and the repair cost $7,303.08. The council wanted to evaluate the product to see how it would perform. While the product appears to be durable, it may not be suitable for alley aprons. The rubber could also be coloured, so it wouldn't have to look like pavement. Concrete sidewalks are the most expensive option, but they also last for a very long time and are likely to be the most cost-effective option overall. Pavement is more expensive than rubber, but it cracks over time, has a shorter lifespan than concrete, and its appearance blends in with the street.
We have put in a lot of effort, and the downtown area looks much better now than it did when we first began our beautification efforts. However, we must devise a strategy for our downtown sidewalks. We've tried to maintain them over the years, but their cracking and crumbling appearance is at odds with the storefronts. It will take community support and a plan to repair the downtown sidewalks. The plan would have to address the type of repair that would be used, the order in which the sidewalks would be repaired, and how it would be paid for. Perhaps a portion of the paving levy could be used to aid in the completion of the project. Repairing the downtown sidewalks will not happen overnight; it will require community support and a plan, but it is certainly doable.
Together with the Town Council, the Economic Development Committee can design a downtown revitalization strategy and communicate it to the community. A downtown revitalization strategy would not only significantly improve the appearance of our downtown, but it would also demonstrate appreciation for our local businesses, as we would not have a town without them. It would also send a positive message to potential new businesses that Gull Lake is open for business.
It could all start with a plan.
Blake Campbell